London Heatwave Causes Problems for Olympics Tourists

London's mild and wet summer has disappeared, replaced by heat that's causing new problems for Olympics attendees.

This week, London temps hit the mid-80s, about ten degrees warmer than average. This heat wave has caused trouble for portions of the city's rail infrastructure, which delayed some trains and incapacitated others. Some service at Stratford station, the major stop for riders attending the Games, was temporarily suspended, according to Greater Anglia.

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According to the Guardian, Greater Anglia announced Transport for London, London Underground and c2c would honor their tickets this afternoon for alternative routes to Stratford. A Network Rail spokesman said the heat affected 60-year-old overhead cables out of Liverpool Street but that most services to Stratford would still run.

Yesterday, the Central line was shut down for two hours after a loss of power. It is one of the two major Underground lines that connect Central London to Olympic Park.

The weather exacerbated an administrative error that affected hundreds of tourists waiting to pick up tickets. According to the Daily Mail, waits as long as six hours took place in Paddington where a ticket agency had trouble processing online purchases. Customers, some protecting themselves from the sun with umbrellas and coats, complained that the delay in combination with the heat could lead to dehydration.