The London Underground scheme consists of 270 stations, 11 lines, the total length of which is 402 kilometers. This type of transport is used daily by more than three million residents and guests of the British capital. The London Underground logo is one of the main symbols in popular culture: clothing items and accessories with a company logo and subway scheme are produced and sold worldwide.
Creation History and Current Status
The opening day of the London Underground fell on January 10, 1863. The first line was called the Metro Railway, it connected the two largest stations. In 1890, the London Underground was the first to launch the operation of electric trains. Until 1933, private companies provided the construction and development of the lines. The creation of the Department of Passenger Transport combined them into a single state system.
During the Second World War, the subway became an indispensable refuge from bombing for the civilian population of the city. November 18, 1987 was remembered by the inhabitants of London for a sudden outbreak of fire. That day, the elements took the lives of thirty people. In July 2005, several stations were targeted by terrorist attacks. Four coordinated explosions in three trains killed 56 citizens and four suicide bombers.
To date, the London Underground scheme is in fourth place among the longest in the world, behind Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai. Residents of the capital themselves call this type of transport The Tube (English "pipe") due to the shape in the form of tunnels.
London Underground Lines and Stations
As previously mentioned, the metro of the British capital consists of 11 lines, four of which are shallow, the rest are deep. Let's consider each separately:
- "District" (indicated in green on the diagram and contains 60 stations);
- Metro (violet, 34 stations);
- "Ring" (yellow, 36 stations);
- Severnaya (black, 50 stations);
- Waterloo & City (turquoise, 2 stations);
- "Central" (red, 49 stations);
- Bakerloo (brown, 25 stations);
- Piccadilly Circus (navy blue, 53 stations);
- "Victoria" (blue, 16 stations);
- "Anniversary" (silver, 27 stations);
- Hammersmith & City (pink, 29 stations).
In 2007, the Eastern Line was closed for reconstruction. Four years after its discovery, it became part of the elevated transport. The London Underground layout also includes sections such as the London Overhead and the Dockland Light Underground.
Interesting Facts
- The longest non-stop trip is from West Raislip Station to Epping Station - 54.9 kilometers and lasts an hour and 28 minutes.
- On the territory of "Stratford" is the shortest escalator (4 meters), and the longest belongs to the Angel station (60 meters).
- The deepest station itself is called "Hampstead", it is located at a depth of 59 meters from street level.
- At the shallowest depth (5.2 meters) is the Redbridge station.
- Waterloo is the busiest London Underground station. Passenger traffic here is 82 million people.
- The District line has the largest number of stations (60), and the smallest - Waterloo and City (2).
Design
Initially, the scheme of the London Underground was combined with a map of the city, which, as this type of transport grew, complicated the visual perception of passengers. Later, in 1933, Harry Beck developed the design of the information brochure, in which he placed the lines on a schematic background, not on a geographical one, and marked each with an individual color.
The unique grotesque font that spelled the word Underground on a blue background was developed by Edward Johnston in 1916. The logo with the aforementioned inscription in the early years of its existence was known under such names as “target” and “bull’s eye”. It is a red circle, through the center of which passes a strip of blue. The author of the design of this sign is still unknown. After all modes of transport came under the control of Transport for London, this emblem began to be used at taxi stops, buses, trams, the Dockland light tube, etc.
Today, London metro travel can be safely compared to going to the Museum of Modern Art. Places for advertising are now actively filled with poetry and art drawings, which creates a joyful mood among passengers. This fact also unspeakably pleases tourists and visitors, despite the fact that the cost of an adult fare, depending on zoning, averages 3 pounds. Children's ticket will cost half as much.