London+Underground

Turning 150 years old in 2013, the London Underground, often referred to as just the “Underground” or the “Tube,” is a method of transport used in the United Kingdom. Charles Pearson suggested the idea as a city improvement project in 1845. The operation began in 1896 and still continues to be in use today. The Underground is the third largest metro system in the world; it has 402 kilometers (approximately 249.79 miles) of track. This metro system houses around 270 stations and takes on around 3.22 million riders a day. On August 2, 1870, the very first part of the Underground was opened to the public, the Tower Subway line. This tunnel went under the Thames River; causing this to be the very first underground railroad that went underwater in the world. This was possible because of Marc Isambard Brunel's invention of the tunnel shield. The Tower Subway line used a cable system to move its one train car from one side of the Thames River to the other side. Unfortunately, the line was closed in November of 1870. Due to the cramped and crowded conditions, only twelve passengers could be carried for a short time. The Underground was given its famous nickname, the “Tube,” when the Central Line opened on July 30, 1900. The Central Line goes underground and has a circular shape to it. People started to call it the “Tuppenny Tube,” and the name was latter shorten to just the “Tube.” Many upgrades are currently being applied to the London Underground. Currently, they are installing air conditioning on lines that have not received it yet. Hopefully, the summers will be more comfortable for the passengers with this new update. Just in June 2012, they announced that they were installing Wi-Fi coverage in stations along the network. Having influenced many other transport stations, this amazing tube is complex yet works in an organized way. Its possibilities are truly amazing.

By Alex W., & Madelyn R.