London Underground

Trains run under the big city of London.

This was the first train system under the ground. It opened a long time ago in 1863.

Some tracks are deep in the earth. These deep tunnels are shaped like tubes.

That is why people call it the Tube.

Other tracks are not under the ground. They stay on top of the earth. Much of the track is on the surface.

Many people use these trains every day. They travel to many different stations.

People use special cards to pay for their rides.

It is a very big way to travel. The trains help people move around the city.

The London Underground is a big train system in England.

People call it the Underground or the Tube. It started in 1863. It was the first railway in the world to run under the ground. At first, steam engines pulled wooden cars. These engines made smoky fumes. Later, the trains used electric power. This made the air much cleaner for riders.

There are two main types of tracks. Some tracks are just below the surface. These were made using a way called cut-and-cover. Other tracks are much deeper. They are in small, round tunnels. These round tunnels look like tubes. This is why people call the system the Tube.

The system has 272 stations. Up to 5 million people use it every day.

Most people pay for rides using an Oyster card. This is a special card used for travel. The system has 11 different lines. Only 45% of the tracks are actually under the ground. Much of the network sits on the surface of the earth.

The London Underground is a massive train system in England.

People often call it the Underground or the Tube. It helps people move around Greater London and nearby areas. The system is very busy every single day. It has 272 different stations for passengers to use. Up to 5 million people make journeys on it daily. In the years 2024 and 2025, it saw 1.216 billion journeys.

This system is a vital part of how the city works.

There are two main ways the tracks are built. Some lines are called sub-surface lines. These were made using a method called cut-and-cover. Workers dug up the ground and then covered the tracks again. Other lines are much deeper under the city. These were dug as small, circular tunnels. These round tunnels look like tubes. This is why people gave the system its nickname, the Tube.

Only 45% of the whole system is actually under the ground.

This amazing system has a very long history. The Metropolitan Railway opened on 10 January 1863. It was the world's very first underground passenger railway. It ran between Paddington and Farringdon stations. At first, steam locomotives pulled wooden carriages. These engines created sulphurous fumes in the tunnels. Despite the smoky air, the line was a huge success. It carried 9.5 million passengers in its first year.

Later, the system moved to electric traction trains.

Many people helped shape the Underground we see today. In 1890, the City and South London Railway opened. It was the first line to use electric trains. In 1916, Edward Johnston created the famous Johnston typeface. Another famous look is the roundel symbol.

In 1931, Harry Beck designed the schematic Tube map. This map is now a famous national design icon.

Many companies merged to form London Transport in 1933. Now, London Underground Limited is part of Transport for London.

Traveling on the Tube is easy with modern tools.

In 1983, the system introduced the Travelcard ticket. In 2003, they started using the Oyster card. This is a contactless system for paying for rides. In 2014, people could even use bank cards to pay. This was the first time a public transport system did this. Most of the money to run the trains comes from passenger fares. Using the Tube is just like using any other big city transport system.

The London Underground is a massive rapid transit system in England.

It serves Greater London and parts of the home counties, including Buckinghamshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire. Often called the Underground or the Tube, it is a vital part of the city's transport network. The system is managed by Transport for London. Today, the network includes 11 different lines. It consists of 272 stations that facilitate up to 5 million passenger journeys every single day. In the 2024/25 period, the system recorded 1.216 billion journeys.

There are two primary ways the tunnels were constructed. The first method is known as cut-and-cover. This was used for sub-surface lines, where workers dug up the ground and then covered the tracks again. The second method involved digging smaller, roughly circular tunnels at much deeper levels. These deep-level tunnels are what gave the system its nickname, the Tube. Interestingly, only 45% of the entire system is actually located underground. Much of the network in the outer areas of London sits on the surface.

The history of the system began with the Metropolitan Railway. It opened on 10 January 1863 as the world's first underground passenger railway. This early line ran between Paddington and Farringdon. It used steam locomotives to haul gas-lit wooden carriages. Even though the steam engines produced sulphurous fumes, the line was a major success. It carried 9.5 million passengers during its very first year.

To prepare for this, a short test tunnel was built in 1855 in Kibblesworth to study geological properties.

As the network grew, technology changed how the trains moved. The City & South London Railway opened in 1890. It was the first line to operate using underground electric traction trains. This line is now part of the Northern line. Later, different companies competed to modernize their services. The District and Metropolitan railways eventually had to electrify their sections. While there were debates over using AC or DC electrical systems, the DC system was eventually adopted for many lines. This shift away from steam helped solve problems with heat and pollution in the tunnels.

The modern look of the Underground was shaped by several key figures. In 1916, Edward Johnston created the Johnston typeface. The system also uses a famous symbol called the roundel.

In 1931, Harry Beck designed the schematic Tube map. This map uses a simplified design to show how lines connect. It was voted a national design icon in 2006.

Today, the Beck map has expanded to include other systems like the Elizabeth line and the London Overground.

Ownership and management of the system have changed many times. Originally, many lines were owned by different private companies. In the early 20th century, these were brought together under the Underground brand. In 1933, they merged to form London Transport under the London Passenger Transport Board. Now, the system is operated by London Underground Limited. This company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London. This structure helps manage the massive costs of the network. In fact, 92% of operational expenditure is covered by passenger fares.

Traveling on the system has also become more high-tech over the years. In 1983, the Travelcard ticket was introduced to help passengers. In 2003, the system moved to a contactless ticketing method called the Oyster card.

A major milestone occurred in 2014 when contactless bank card payments were introduced. This was the first time such a system was used on public transport. These changes make it much faster for millions of people to move through the city every day.