The London Underground, also known as the Tube, is a 253-mile railway system that began in 1863 to solve traffic congestion in London. It has influenced subway systems worldwide and has 12 lines. The system has expanded and upgraded over time, and during World War II, it served as a bomb shelter. The Tube has a unique map designed by Harry Beck in 1933, and there are several “ghost stations” that still exist.
The London Underground is an iconic underground railway located in London, England. As well as shaping the city of London upon it, the tube has also influenced metropolitan railways around the world. Many nations have modeled their tube systems after London’s tube system, also known as the Tube, due to the distinctive shape of tube tunnels. The first line was completed in the late 19th century.
The total network that makes up the London Underground is 253 miles (408 kilometers) long. Approximately 976 million rides are made on 4,070 subway cars each year. It began in 1863, when the service between Paddington Station and Farringdon Street first opened. The system has continued to expand, with new lines being built periodically and old ones being upgraded to better serve the people in the city.
The construction of the Metropolitan railway system, which came to be known as the London Underground, began in the Victorian era in response to increasing traffic congestion. The city’s growing population made travel to London very difficult, and it was thought that an underground railway would solve many congestion problems. The system expanded rapidly and included 12 separate lines by 2006.
Initially, the lines were built using a cut and cover technique. This involved excavating the earth thoroughly, building a supported brick arch, and capping the arch. This technique was time-consuming and also contributed to congestion, as it blocked vital roads. Later, a system similar to that used in coal mining was used, where the tunnels were excavated and supported with beams before being lined with bricks.
The first line to be completed was the Circle Line, finished in 1884. Other lines quickly followed, including the Central Line, Bakerloo and Hammersmith and City. Initially, the Metro used steam trains, but began converting to electric trains in the early 1900s. Electronic ticketing machines were introduced in 1918, and the system continued to lead the way in Metro railroad innovation.
The extensive London Underground network was used as a bomb shelter during World War II. Britons of all ages and classes took refuge underground during the many bombings of London. Expansion of the system ceased during the war, with partially completed lines used for storage and basic production. In 2003, the Underground was integrated into the Transport for London system, which aims to increase the efficiency and capacity of London’s transit services.
The Metro also has a unique map, designed by Harry Beck in 1933. Beck realized that a properly scaled, geographically accurate map would be difficult for travelers to read. His map simplified the system to its essence, color-coding the various lines and smoothing out their paths so that the entire network could be represented simply and clearly. Maps styled after him are used for transportation systems everywhere to quickly convey basic route information to travellers.
The London Underground also has several ‘ghost stations’ which have been closed for various reasons, but still exist. Some of them are like time capsules that perfectly capture the moment they were closed, while others have been more or less erased from history. Tours of the disused stations are sometimes organized and are an interesting look into the heart of the Metro system.
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