http://networks.silicon.com/mobile/0,39024665,39150177,00.htm has what Sean was referring to.
UK Government officials deny they shutdown any cell phone service.
In London, the mobile operators do not provide any service anywhere in the London underground network. The only place that I know of where there is service is on the Heathrow Express platforms at Heathrow but that is technically not part of the London underground. Outside of Central London the lines run aboveground and there is obviously mobile coverage in those areas. Also, some of the lines run in shallow tunnels, sometimes little more than uncovered trenches and so there are areas where the signal from local cells does penetrate into the trains. There has been some talk recently of setting up microcells inside the tunnels to give mobile coverage throughout the system as is found in other countries. I wonder if this will now be reconsidered. There are always tradeoffs when building infrastructures of any type. Like the requirement for generator capacity at 60 Hudson versus the desire of Tribeca residents to not live next door to a fuel dump. --Michael Dillon