Falling in love on London Tube

LONDON: More than half of Londoners have found love on the British capitals underground railway system, an online poll said. The “Tube”, as its affectionately known, may be crowded, sweltering and sometimes a little smelly, but it appears to be awash with romance.

The online survey, conducted by British social network Qype over a month, found 51 per cent of respondents had dated, or received the phone number of someone theyd met for the first time on the London Underground. “The Tube has its own history, its own rules and its own etiquette,” Qype community manager Rob Hinchcliffe said. “Maybe that added romance of the whole Tube experience has something to do with the responses we got to our survey.”

Three million passengers travel every day on the London Underground, which consists of 12 railway lines that criss-cross the city. Almost a third of respondents said they were more likely to be attracted to someone they spotted on the Underground than in traditional singleton hot spots like bars or clubs.

“Youre not out at bars every day but youre always on the Tube so if you dont have a book to read, someone might catch your eye,” Hinchcliffe said. Many respondents gave examples of pick-up lines they had heard on the Tube designed to entice fellow commuters, including: “Going my way?” and “Ive forgotten where my stop is, can you tell me where you get off?”

Despite the success rate of passengers who have made the first move, typical English reserve has also put a damper on the transport worlds tunnel of love. Ninety per cent of respondents said they had all found themselves attracted to a fellow commuter but unable to approach them, with 56 per cent too shy, and 36 per cent of women saying they werent drunk enough, to make the first move.