London’s Tube is iconic, but with millions of journeys every day, fears and rumours about safety inevitably circulate. From social posts about people jumping onto the tracks to theories about hidden dangers, it can be hard to know what’s real and what’s myth. Let’s unpack the latest news, data, and expert insight on Tube safety in 2025, so you can separate fact from fiction.

Before we dig into risks and rumours, it helps to understand how the London Underground operates now:

The Tube handles millions of passengers daily and remains one of the safest mass transit systems in the world when measured by deaths per passenger-mile.

Like any major urban network, it has incidents, but most risks are low-frequency and managed with rigorous safety systems.

In 2025, several developments have been in the news that reflect both improvement efforts and challenges for TfL (Transport for London). These help frame concerns about Tube safety:

Myth #1 “The Tube is more dangerous than other metros.”

Reality: Not true.

There’s a human instinct to assume underground = dangerous. But statistics show that routine Tube travel, even during disruptions, is far safer than many everyday activities like cycling or driving.

Most incidents on the Tube involve minor injuries (e.g., slips, trips, falls), not serious harm. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) investigates incidents when they occur, and publishes reports to help improve systems and procedures. For example, a 2023 partial evacuation at Clapham Common showed how passengers reacted to smoke, but also how procedures are updated afterward to reduce future risks.

Myth #2 “If people break windows to get out, the Tube must be unsafe.”

This was widely shared on social media — a video of passengers breaking windows on a stopped Northern line train. But investigators clarified the context: the train was filling with a burning smell, and people were responding out of fear, not because the system had completely failed.

Truth: It was a stressful situation, but not indicative of a systemic danger — and staff procedures have been reviewed because of it.

Myth #3 “Track workers and maintenance are unsafe because contractors aren’t full staff.”

Some safety campaigners have raised concerns about outsourcing and precarious employment for track workers, suggesting this increases risk.

Reality: TfL still follows strict safety protocols and regulatory oversight. However, employment conditions, such as reliance on contractors with uncertain hours, can affect morale and the availability of experienced staff. It’s a workforce issue, not a signal that Tube infrastructure itself is inherently unsafe.

Myth #4 “If lifts are out for long periods, the whole system is unsafe.”

Fact: Accessibility issues — like lifts being out of service — are a real frustration, especially for people with mobility challenges. A 2025 report showed lifts were out for a total of seven years cumulatively across stations in one year.

But accessibility concerns, while important, are not the same as safety hazards i.e., they don’t increase the likelihood of an accident.

TfL continues to upgrade stations and expand step-free access, but accessibility remains a challenge for older infrastructure.

Myth #5 “Air quality underground is dangerous to health.”

This one has some nuance.

Researchers have found ultrafine metallic particles, tiny enough to get into the bloodstream, in the air at stations and platforms.

So is it dangerous? The science isn’t settled. While these particles are present, it’s not yet clear that typical commuter exposure causes long-term health harm and ventilation upgrades remain a priority.

Myth #6 “Crime makes the Tube unsafe.”

Feeling unsafe because of anti-social behaviour or crime is real for many passengers, surveys suggest about four in ten people report feeling worried on public transport.

This isn’t a myth – but it’s important to distinguish two things:

Perceived risk (feeling unsafe),

Actual risk (statistical likelihood of serious crime).

Most recorded crimes on the Tube are non-violent theft or antisocial behaviours, not serious violent crime and British Transport Police work alongside TfL to reduce these incidents.

The Bottom Line

The London Underground, like any major urban transit system, isn’t risk-free. But most fears stem from:

• Misunderstood videos
• Anecdotes elevated into “danger myths”
• Confusion between accessibility issues and safety failures

When you look at data and official investigations, the actual danger to passengers remains low, and ongoing improvements, including technology trials, infrastructure upgrades, and procedural changes, continue to make the Tube safer.

Stay tuned!
If you’re curious about specific lines, the science of underground air quality, passenger behaviour myths, or how advanced tech like AI is being used to detect risks. I’ve got a whole series of posts lined up just for that.