Subway systems are a marvel of modern engineering, providing efficient and convenient transportation to millions of people around the world every day. But did you know that the first metro systems were built more than a century ago?
The first metro systems were steam-powered, but the first electric metro system was built in Budapest in 1896.
Metro systems have quickly become an essential part of urban life around the world. They enabled a fast, efficient and affordable way of moving around cities and helped reduce traffic jams and pollution.
Here are the 7 oldest metro stations in the world:
- London Underground
- metro in Budapest
- Glasgow Circular Underground
- Chicago ‘L’
- paris metro
- Berlin U-Bahn
- New York City Subway
According to the Oldest Org, the world’s first subway opened in London in 1863. Since then, subway systems have been built all over the world, transporting millions of people every day.
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1. London Underground
Source: Wikipedia
The London Underground was the first underground railway in the world. It opened in 1863 for locomotives and ran between Paddington and Farringdon. Paddington station is still in use today.
According to railway technology, it is known to be the longest metro system in the world and spans 402 kilometers with 270 stations.
2. Budapest metro
Source: Hungary Today
The Budapest Metro is a rapid transit system in the capital of Hungary, Budapest. It is the oldest electrified subway system in the world and the second oldest multi-station subway system, after the originally steam-powered London Underground.
It was launched for the first time in 1896, and in 2002, UNESCO first included it in the list of world heritage.
The Budapest Metro currently has four lines, but there is a proposal for a fifth line that would connect to the commuter rail system. The construction of this fifth line is not yet planned.
3. Glasgow Circular Underground
Source: Flickr
The Underground is the oldest underground railway system in Scotland. It was opened in 1896 and is the third oldest metro system in the world. Glasgow Metro has since expanded to more than 15 stations. It is a unique loop system that runs underground for 10.5 kilometers and has never been extended beyond the original route. The station on Sveti Henok Square is still in operation today. According to Wikipedia, in 2018 it transported over 1.991 million people.
4. Chicago ‘L’
Source: Chicago Architecture Center
Chicago’s ‘L’ subway system, which began operating as an electrified system in 1892, now carries over 230 million passengers annually, making it the second busiest subway in the US.
Two of its lines offer 24-hour service, a distinction shared by only four other rapid transit systems in the country. According to Railway Technology, “The network is approximately 165km long with eight lines, which includes a loop in the city center through which services pass or circle to return to their starting point.”
5. Paris Metro
Source: Messy Nessy Chic
The Paris Metro opened in 1900, pioneering the use of the term “metro” from its original name “Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris”. In 2016, it transported an incredible 1.52 billion passengers.
The 214 kilometer long network includes 16 lines with 302 stops, with an average distance of 548 meters between them. In the center of the city, the stations are often far from each other. A total of 197 kilometers of the network runs underground.
6. Berlin U-Bahn
Source: World Travel Images
Berlin’s underground railway, which began operating in 1902, spans ten lines and over 151 kilometers of track, with approximately 80% of the lines running underground.
This rail network was built to alleviate traffic congestion, Berlin’s U-Bahn was initially launched as a link between Stralauer Tor and Zoologischer Garten, before its underground network opened in 1910, connecting Wilmersdorf to the city centre.
The U-Bahn has a top speed of 72 kilometers per hour and has over 175 stations.
7. New York subway
Source: The New Yorker
The New York City Subway opened in October 1904 with two divisions: the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) and the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT). The first fare was only $0.05.
Today, the subway is the largest metro system in the world by number of stations, with over 420 stations on 380 kilometers.
The subway has 36 lines and 27 lines that operate on them. Due to the 24/7 operation, the lines operate according to different service patterns which can be changed depending on the maintenance needs.
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Categories: Trends
Source: vcmp.edu.vn