Metro systems across the world have been in operation since the late 1800s and transport millions of commuters across cities every day.
The London Underground is the oldest metro system in the world, with services operating from 1890.
The UK’s London Underground was originally opened in 1863 for locomotive trains. In 1890, it became the world’s first metro system when electric trains began operating on one of its deep-level tube lines.
It is the world’s third longest metro system, spanning 402km with 270 stations across its 11 lines. Only 45% of the network actually runs underground, mainly in the city centre, with lines in the suburbs mostly running overground.
London Underground has been owned and operated by Transport for London subsidiary London Underground Limited since 2007. Originally, tube lines were owned by various private companies until 1933 when the London Passenger Transport Board was introduced. Ownership of the London Underground was then passed to London Regional Transport in 1984.
Written by Sayoni Mahapatra Chatterji
Early Morning Memories 