Here is one for us to be proud of a nation – the London Underground is officially the oldest underground railway system…. In the world.
By the mid-19th century, London was overcrowded and streets were starting to get clogged with traffic. Trains brought people to the edges of the city, but getting into the centre was slow and chaotic.
To solve this as a world first, engineers built a railway under the streets.
In 1863 the Metropolitan Railway opened between Paddington and Farringdon.
It ran steam trains through tunnels dug using the “cut-and-cover” method (digging trenches, laying tracks, and then covering them).
It was the first underground railway in the world — and it was an instant success.
Obviously, steam trains were making the tunnels very hot and smoky, so electricity was the future.
In 1890, the City & South London Railway opened:
- The first electric underground railway
- The first deep-level tube (using circular tunnels bored far underground)
This is where the nickname “the Tube” comes from.
🚇 Growth into a network (1900–1930s)
Different companies went on to build lines all over London during tis era. In order to make them easier for people to use:
- In 1933, they were united under the London Passenger Transport Board
- A single map, ticket system, and brand was created
The famous Tube map
In 1931, Harry Beck who was a technical draughtsman and graphic designer working in London Underground’s signalling department created the now iconic Tube map:
- It showed connections between lines and stations, not real geography
- It made the system much easier to understand
This style is now copied by metros worldwide.
🛡️ World War II (1939–1945)
During the Blitz:
- Tube stations were used as air-raid shelters
- Thousands of Londoners slept on platforms to stay safe from bombing
Some stations even had schools, hospitals, and shops underground.
🏗️ Modernisation (1945–2000)
After the war:
- Old steam lines were replaced by electric trains
- New lines like the Victoria Line were built and this one opened in 1968
- Trains progressively became faster, safer, and more automated
🌍 Today
The London Underground now has:
- 11 lines
- Over 270 stations
- More than 1 billion journeys a year
It is still one of the largest and most famous city transport systems in the world — and should be considered a model for underground railways everywhere.
