London Underground’s Book Swaps Removed Over Fire Safety Concerns

For years, Londoners have enjoyed the simple joy of exchanging books at Tube stations, picking up a new read while dropping off an old favourite. But now, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that all book swap shelves at London Underground stations have been removed following guidance from the London Fire Brigade. The decision, which has already led to the disappearance of book exchanges at stations like Clapham North, Lewisham, and Oval, has left many questioning why such a small community initiative has been deemed a safety risk.

Signs at affected stations inform commuters that all book exchanges have been shut down “with immediate effect” due to fire safety regulations, adding, “We are all SAD to see this go. Thank you for all your support over the years.” TfL confirmed that it works closely with the emergency services to maintain safety across the network and that, following concerns raised by the London Fire Brigade, station staff have been advised to remove the books. However, TfL has suggested there is some hope for their return in the future. A spokesperson stated, “We’d like to apologise to any of our customers that this impacts and we are reviewing our processes for these internally and will work with the Fire Service to see if book swaps can be re-introduced at some stations across the network in the future.”

The issue appears to be tied to stricter fire safety regulations in sub-surface stations compared to those above ground. TfL has also said it will collaborate with local communities to redistribute books to alternative locations where possible. While there’s no clear timeline for their return, Londoners who have relied on these small, unregulated libraries will be watching closely to see if book swaps can make a comeback. For now, commuters may need to find alternative ways to share and discover second-hand reads, perhaps through local libraries or community-led initiatives outside the London Underground.

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