Candid Photographs of the London Underground in the Late 1980s

   
“The images shown here were taken over a three year period on the London Underground,” wrote Paul Baldesare. “Returning to London after a three year absence I felt that the Underground had become a microcosm of modern day London with its overcrowding and often tense and claustrophobic environment, dilapidated stations, broken lifts and escalators and patchwork renovation work acting as a backdrop to the overcrowded trains and fitful service.
 
“These pictures were taken around the time of the King’s Cross disaster – a major underground fire in one of London’s main underground stations which caused multiple deaths and injuries. The threat of fire was not the only safety worry; fear of violence was becoming a real worry or a sizeable minority of travellers, particularly women.
 
“The discomfort will often show in the body and facial movements of the passengers. Travelling on the underground seems to create a that vacuum of mind and soul. People lie, perch and hang to gain greater comfort from the often stressful journey.”
 London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s
London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

 
London Underground in the Late 1980s
 
London Underground in the Late 1980s

 

London Underground in the Late 1980s