If you’ve read any of my blogs in the past, then you probably already know that I’m not a big fan of the London underground. I use it a lot – out of necessity rather than desire – but I would hate to live in the city and have to use the trains every day.
One of the main problems is that the trains get so hot during the summer. Unlike other underground systems, they don’t seem to have any form of air conditioning which means they are full of sweating people. this is especially bad during peak hours when there are no seats.
Another problem is the people who insist on playing their music loud enough for everyone to hear. I understand that the train is loud, but if the person across the carriage can make out the song you’re listening to then the music is too loud! Not only is it annoying for everyone else, but it must destroy their ears.
On a plus side, the tubes are pretty cheap. You can get a travel day card for around £20, and as long as you stay within zone 1 you can use whichever trains you want. This is usually the easiest way to do things, although if you’re willing to queue you might be able to get a cheaper deal if you only pay for the journeys that you’re actually using.
There’s still the problem of the tubes being overcrowded, even though they usually run every few minutes. No one wants to be stuck face to face with a complete stranger for half an hour on a hot train, but that’s quite often the case during the summer months. It’s not a pleasant experience, and makes the rush hour over ground trains look like an attractive proposition.
The problem is, getting on the tube is the quickest and cheapest way to get around. You don’t have to worry about traffic, the trains generally are regular and run on time and the stops are all quite close together. They have definitely done a good job at making it easy to use, so at least they’ve got something right.
In the winter the trains aren’t as bad, so let’s hope I don’t have to go to London so much next summer!