I spend probably 40 minutes a day crammed cheek to sweaty jowl with other London commuters—some of them drunks, farters, and shovers—in a swiftly moving cylinder hundreds of feet underground. It’s usually hot, and despite the fact that we are Tetrised in there, all of us are trying desperately to pretend that we are completely alone. Rarely do I give thanks for the experience, but this year marks the 155th anniversary of the London Underground, that efficient marvel of public transport.
On January 9, 1863, the world’s first-ever underground railway train, steam-operated, pulled out of Paddington Station, and rumbled 3.5 miles down the tubular tunnel to Farringdon Station. The line, which was financed by Metropolitan Railway, was an instant success: Approximately 40,000 people lined up for the novelty of riding a train underground. Within six months, 26,000 people were riding the train each day.
By 1884, there were more than 800 trains in operation in what was called the Inner Circle, a circular line that enclosed central London and that is now just the Circle Line. And now, with more than five times that number of trains operating and millions of people safely and swiftly reaching their destinations every day, the London Underground is truly a modern miracle of efficient transport. Here are 15 impressive facts and figures you might not have known about the London Tube.
1. THE MAJORITY OF THE LONDON UNDERGROUND IS NOT UNDERGROUND.
The entire London Underground network is approximately 249 miles long, employing more than 4100 trains, and linking 270 stations. But only about 45 percent of those miles are underground.
2. EACH TRAIN TRAVELS ABOUT 114,500 MILES A YEAR.
Each Tube train travels an average of 114,500 miles a year, or 4.6 times around the world. The longest distance between adjacent stations is approximately 3.9 miles, from Chesham to Chalfont & Latimer. The shortest distance is about 984 feet, between Leicester Square and Covent Garden on the Picadilly Line (and since Covent Garden is usually mobbed, you’re better off getting off at Leicester Square and walking).
3. MORE THAN 1 BILLION JOURNEYS ARE MADE EACH YEAR.
Each year, about 1.3 billion journeys are made on the London Underground. The busiest station in the network is Waterloo, which sees about 100.3 million passengers per year; the least used is Roding Valley.
4. HALF A MILLION MICE CALL THE UNDERGROUND HOME.
An estimated 500,000 mice live in the tunnels, but they’re not the only pests—the mosquitoes that live in the Tube are of a different and somewhat more vicious species than their aboveground cousins. Called Culex pipiens molestus, they’re supposedly known for their voracious appetites.
5. THERE ARE SOME GHOSTS REPORTEDLY LIVING DOWN THERE, TOO.
The London Underground is also supposedly home to a group of subterranean Londoners, who, just like the Mole People of New York’s Subway, took to the tunnels and mutated. The Tube is also reportedly home to a host of ghostly apparitions, including the Faceless Woman of Beacontree Station, the Toothy Man of Channelsea Depot, and the Screaming Spectre of Farringdon Station.
6. THE AVERAGE LONDONER SPENDS 11.5 DAYS OF EACH YEAR ON THE TUBE.
The average Londoner spends an average of about 11.5 days each year on the Underground—5.2 of those days in the Underground’s underground tunnels. (What’s unknown is how many hours of those days are spent stopped underground, waiting for a signal failure to be resolved, for another train to move along, or for whatever bit of rubbish that has been thrown on the tracks at the station ahead of you to be cleared.)
7. THE FASTEST TRAINS TRAVEL AT SPEEDS OF OVER 60 MILES PER HOUR.
The fastest line is the Metropolitan, where trains can reach speeds of more than 60 miles per hour, but the average speed of a London Underground train is only around 20.5 miles per hour.
8. THE DEEPEST STATION IS NEARLY 200 FEET BELOW STREET LEVEL.
The deepest Underground station is Hampstead, on the Northern Line, which is located about 192 feet below street level. There’s an elevator, of course, but also an emergency spiral staircase featuring more than 320 steps, in case of emergency (or a fit of exercise mania).
9. IN 1969, QUEEN ELIZABETH TOOK CONTROL OF THE VICTORIA LINE.
In 1969, Queen Elizabeth II commemorated the opening of the Victoria Line by driving one of the new trains from Green Park to Oxford Circus. It was her second ride ever on a London Underground train, the first being when she was 13 and accompanied by her sister and governess. Presumably her stint as Tube driver was without incident, as eight years later, the Queen was again allowed in the cab of a Picadilly Line train when she presided over the opening of the line’s extension.
10. THE FIRST ESCALATOR WAS A MISERABLE FAILURE.
The Underground’s first real escalator was built in 1911 at Earl’s Court, but four years before that, a spiral escalator was installed at Holloway Road Station. It didn’t last very long—in fact, it only lasted for a day of testing and never actually saw public use. Its remains are held at the London Transport Museum’s Depot, which is only open to the public a few times per year.
11. THE LONGEST ESCALATOR IS NEARLY 200 FEET LONG.
The longest escalator at any Underground station is the 197-foot-long moving stair at Angel, in Islington, on the Northern line.
12. PEOPLE HAVE LEFT A LOT OF WEIRD THINGS ON THE TRAINS.
Among the strangest things left on the Underground and collected by the Lost Property Office: a jar of bull semen; an outboard motor; three dead bats in a container; a vasectomy kit; a harpoon gun, which may have gone with the 14-foot-long boat; a stuffed eagle; breast implants; false teeth and a surprising number of prosthetic limbs; a four-foot-tall Mickey Mouse; six full-sized mannequins; and an urn containing a dead man’s ashes, which was reunited with his brother five years after it was lost.
13. JERRY SPRINGER WAS BORN AT HIGHGATE STATION.
Politician-turned-trash talk show host Jerry Springer was born at Highgate Station on the Northern Line on February 13, 1944, when his mother sought shelter during a Luftwaffe raid during World War II.
14. MANY PEOPLE USED TUBE STATIONS AS AIR RAID SHELTERS DURING WORLD WAR II, EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT BANNED THE PRACTICE.
Speaking of air raids: At the start of the London Blitz, Germany’s nightly bombing raids on the British capital in September 1939, the government banned people from using the Tube stations as air raid shelters, claiming that the stations should be reserved only for transport. People got around the ban by simply buying a ticket and refusing to leave the platform. A month later, the government realized that the ban was unenforceable at best and cruel at worst, and gave the go-ahead for stations to be used as shelters.
By the end of the war, sheltering in the Underground had became so regular that a ticketing scheme was introduced to keep people from panicking at the queues, and more than 22,000 bunk beds were installed in stations across the system to provide places for them to sleep.
15. ITS ICONIC MAP WAS INSPIRED BY A CIRCUIT BOARD.
The London Underground’s iconic map, which bears no relationship to actual topographical or geographical features, was designed in 1933 by Harry Beck. Beck, an engineering draftsman who worked in the London Underground’s signals office, was supposedly inspired by electronic circuit boards, and saw ways of tidying up the lines. But the department rejected the initial proposal, claiming it was too radical, and Beck was paid a paltry sum, less than $15, for his work. Two years and some modifications later, however, the Underground adopted the map and has used it ever since.
Mimi labda kutumia dakika 40 kwa siku crammed mashavu kwa jowl sweaty na wasafiri wengine London - baadhi yao drunks, farters, na shovers - katika silinda kusonga haraka mamia ya futi chini ya ardhi. Kwa kawaida ni moto, na licha ya ukweli kwamba sisi ni Tetrised huko, sisi wote ni kujaribu desperately kujifanya kwamba sisi ni peke yake kabisa. "Hakuna mtu anayejaribu kuelezea kwa urahisi, lakini kwa kweli, hii ni miaka ya 150 ya ""London Underground"" - gari la chini ya ardhi la London." Tarehe 9 Januari 1863, gari-moshi la kwanza la chini ya ardhi, lililotumiwa na mvuke, lilitoka kwenye kituo cha Paddington na kusafiri kwa umbali wa maili 3.5 chini ya handaki la bomba hadi kituo cha Farringdon. Mstari huo, uliofadhiliwa na Metropolitan Railway, ulikuwa na mafanikio ya papo hapo: Karibu watu 40,000 walipiga foleni kwa ajili ya novelty ya kuendesha gari-moshi la chini ya ardhi. Baada ya miezi sita, watu 26,000 walikuwa wakisafiri kwa gari-moshi hilo kila siku. "Kufikia mwaka 1884 kulikuwa na treni zaidi ya 800 katika ""Inner Circle"" (Mzunguko wa Ndani), mstari wa mviringo uliozunguka London ya kati na ambao sasa ni mstari wa mviringo tu." Na sasa, na zaidi ya mara tano ya idadi hiyo ya treni zinazoendesha na mamilioni ya watu salama na haraka kufikia marudio yao kila siku, London Underground ni kweli muujiza wa kisasa wa usafiri ufanisi. Hapa kuna mambo 15 ya kushangaza ambayo huenda usijui kuhusu London Metro. 1. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Miongoni mwa watu wengi wa London ni chini ya ardhi. London Underground ina urefu wa kilomita 249, na ina treni zaidi ya 4100 zinazohusisha vituo 270. Lakini ni asilimia 45 tu ya kilometa hizo zilizo chini ya ardhi. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Kila gari-moshi husafiri umbali wa kilometa 114,500 hivi kwa mwaka. Kila gari-moshi la Tube husafiri wastani wa maili 114,500 kwa mwaka, au mara 4.6 kuzunguka ulimwengu. Umbali mrefu kati ya vituo vya jirani ni takriban maili 3.9 kutoka Chesham hadi Chalfont & Latimer. Njia ya mwisho ni kati ya Leicester Square na Covent Garden kwenye Piccadilly Line, na kwa kuwa Covent Garden ni ya kawaida, ni bora kutoka Leicester Square na kutembea. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Zaidi ya safari bilioni moja hufanywa kila mwaka. Kila mwaka, watu milioni 1.3 hutumia reli ya chini ya ardhi ya London. Kituo cha shughuli nyingi katika mtandao ni Waterloo, ambayo inaona karibu abiria milioni 100.3 kwa mwaka; chini ya kutumika ni Roding Valley. 4. Uwe na uhakika Panya milioni nusu huita makao ya chini ya ardhi. Inakadiriwa kwamba panya 500,000 wanaishi katika vichuguu, lakini si wadudu pekee - mbu wanaoishi katika Tube ni wa spishi tofauti na mbaya zaidi kuliko binamu zao wa juu ya ardhi. Wakiwa wanaitwa Culex pipiens molestus, inadhaniwa kwamba wanajulikana kwa hamu yao kubwa ya kula. 5. Uwe na mtazamo mzuri. Kuna baadhi ya roho zinazoripotiwa kuishi chini huko, pia. London Underground pia inadaiwa kuwa nyumba ya kundi la Londoners chini ya ardhi, ambao, kama vile Mole Watu wa New York Subway, alichukua kwa vichuguu na mutated. "Kama ilivyoelezwa, ""Tube"" pia ni nyumbani kwa majeshi ya maono ya roho, ikiwa ni pamoja na ""Mwanamke asiye na uso"" wa kituo cha Beacontree, ""Toothy Man"" wa Channelsea Depot, na ""Screaming Spectre"" ya kituo cha Farringdon." 6. Uwe na uhakika Mwingereza wa London hutumia siku 11.5 kwa mwaka kwenye mtandao wa televisheni. Londoners wastani hutumia wastani wa siku 11.5 kila mwaka katika Metro, na siku 5.2 katika vifungo vya chini ya ardhi. (Kile kisichojulikana ni ni saa ngapi za siku hizo hutumiwa zikiwa zimesimamishwa chini ya ardhi, zikingojea kutatuliwa kwa kushindwa kwa ishara, kwa gari-moshi lingine kusonga, au kwa chochote kidogo cha taka ambayo imetupwa kwenye reli katika kituo mbele yako kuondolewa.) 7. Uwe na mtazamo gani? Treni zenye mwendo wa kasi zaidi husafiri kwa mwendo wa zaidi ya kilometa 60 kwa saa. Metro ya London ni moja ya reli za chini ya ardhi zenye kasi ya juu zaidi duniani, na kwa wastani, treni za chini ya ardhi za London zina kasi ya karibu kilomita 20.5 kwa saa. 8. Uwe na mtazamo gani? Kituo cha chini zaidi cha gari-moshi ni karibu mita 200 chini ya kiwango cha barabara. Kituo cha chini ya ardhi kinachokuwa kina zaidi ni Hampstead, kwenye Line ya Kaskazini, ambayo iko karibu mita 192 chini ya kiwango cha barabara. Kuna lifti, bila shaka, lakini pia ngazi ya dharura ya mviringo yenye hatua zaidi ya 320, katika kesi ya dharura (au fit ya mazoezi ya mania). 9. (a) Kwa nini? Mwaka 1969 malkia Elizabeth II aliongoza kampuni ya Victoria. Mwaka 1969 Malkia Elizabeth II alisherehekea kufunguliwa kwa reli ya Victoria Line kwa kuendesha moja ya treni mpya kutoka Green Park hadi Oxford Circus. Alikuwa na safari ya pili ya treni ya chini ya ardhi ya London, mara ya kwanza akiwa na miaka 13 na akifuatana na dada yake na mwalimu wake. Baada ya miaka minane, Malkia aliruhusiwa tena katika cabin ya gari-moshi la Piccadilly Line wakati aliongoza ufunguzi wa upanuzi wa mstari. Kumi. ESCALATOR ya Kwanza Ilikuwa Kushindwa Kwa Hasa. Mstari wa kwanza wa chini ya ardhi ulijengwa mnamo 1911 katika Earl's Court, lakini miaka minne kabla ya hapo, mstari wa chini ya ardhi uliwekwa katika Kituo cha Barabara ya Holloway. Haikuendelea kwa muda mrefu sana - kwa kweli, ilidumu kwa siku moja tu ya majaribio na kamwe haikuona matumizi ya umma. Mabaki yake yanahifadhiwa katika London Transport Museum's Depot, ambayo ni wazi kwa umma mara chache tu kwa mwaka. 11. (a) Kwa nini? Escalator ndefu zaidi duniani ina urefu wa mita 60 Hatua ya juu zaidi katika kituo chochote cha chini ya ardhi ni ngazi ya kusonga ya mita 197 katika Angel, Islington, kwenye mstari wa Kaskazini. 12. (a) Kwa nini? WATU WAMEWACHWA Vitu Vingi vya Ajabu Kwenye Treni. "Miongoni mwa vitu vya ajabu zaidi vilivyobaki kwenye gari la chini ya ardhi na kukusanywa na Ofisi ya Mali Iliyopotea: chupa ya mimea ya ng'ombe; injini ya nje; popo watatu waliokufa katika chombo; kit ya vasectomy; bunduki ya harpoon, ambayo inaweza kuwa ilikwenda na mashua ya mita nne; tai ya kupambwa; implants ya kifua; meno bandia na idadi ya kushangaza ya viungo vya prosthetic; Mickey Mouse wa mita nne; mannequins sita za ukubwa kamili; na chungu kilicho na majivu ya mtu aliyekufa, ambayo ilikutana na ndugu yake miaka mitano baada ya kupotea.""" 13. (a) Kwa nini? JERRY SPRINGER alizaliwa katika HIGHGATE STATION. Jerry Springer alizaliwa katika kituo cha Highgate kwenye reli ya Northern Line mnamo Februari 13, 1944, wakati mama yake alipotafuta kimbilio wakati wa uvamizi wa Luftwaffe wakati wa Vita Kuu ya Pili ya Dunia. 14. (a) Kwa nini? WATU wengi walitumia vituo vya ndege kama makao ya kujikinga na mashambulizi ya angani wakati wa Vita vya Pili vya Ulimwengu, ingawa serikali ilipiga marufuku zoea hilo. Wakati wa London Blitz, shambulio la usiku la Ujerumani dhidi ya mji mkuu wa Uingereza, serikali ya Uingereza ilikataza watu kutumia vituo vya metro kama makazi ya shambulio la hewa, ikidai kuwa vituo hivyo vinapaswa kuhifadhiwa tu kwa usafiri. Watu walipuuza marufuku hiyo kwa kununua tu tiketi na kukataa kuondoka kwenye jukwaa. Mwezi mmoja baadaye, serikali ilitambua kwamba marufuku hiyo haingeweza kutekelezwa na ilikuwa ya kikatili, na ikatoa ruhusa ya kutumia vituo hivyo kama makao. Kufikia mwisho wa vita, makazi katika Metro ilikuwa imekuwa kawaida sana kwamba mpango wa tiketi ulianzishwa ili kuwazuia watu wasishiriki katika foleni, na zaidi ya vitanda vya ghorofa 22,000 viliwekwa katika vituo kote mfumo ili kutoa maeneo kwa ajili yao kulala. 15. (a) Kwa nini? MAPI YAKO YA KIBATALA KILIWA NDIYO KWA KWA KWA BORO LA Mzunguko. Ramani ya London Underground, ambayo haina uhusiano wowote na vipengele halisi vya kijiografia au kijiografia, ilibuniwa mnamo 1933 na Harry Beck. Beck, mhandisi wa michoro ambaye alifanya kazi katika ofisi ya ishara ya London Underground, inadaiwa alichochewa na bodi za mzunguko wa elektroniki, na aliona njia za kusafisha mistari. Lakini idara hiyo ilikataa pendekezo hilo la awali, ikidai kwamba lilikuwa la kimapinduzi sana, na Beck alipata mshahara mdogo sana, chini ya dola 15 kwa ajili ya kazi yake. Hata hivyo, miaka miwili na marekebisho fulani baadaye, Shirika la Chini ya Ardhi lilitumia ramani hiyo na limekuwa likitumia tangu wakati huo.