The London Underground network is currently made up of 11 railways or lines and is the oldest underground railway network in the world. The whole network began with the Metropolitan Railway which constructed a railway that covered 6km (3.75 miles) and opened on 10 January 1863. The railway proved extremely popular from its first day, carrying 36,000 passengers and more railways where quickly proposed.
Opening in 1906 as the Baker Street and Waterloo Railway, the Bakerloo line was opened by a company called Underground Electric Railway Companies of London (UECL), who also opened parts of the Piccadilly and Northern lines today. The Bakerloo line received a branch to Stanmore, a part of the Jubilee line today, during the 1930s, before the branch was turned into its own line. The Bakerloo line today provides a vital route though London calling at 25 stations along its 23.2km (14.5 mile) route.
Opening in 1900 as the Central London Railway (CLR), the Central line received much of its identity today during the 1940s after the completion of various extensions which make this the longest line on the network. The Central line today is a busy railway or line that runs under the bustling heart of London.
Opening as two separate lines, the Metropolitan Railway and Metropolitan District Railway (MDR), the Circle line did not receive its own identity until 1948. The circle line encompasses the centre of London providing a vital connection between the mainline stations around London.
Opening in 1868 as the Metropolitan District Railway (MDR), the District line was initially intended to be connected to the Metropolitan Railway to provide a circular railway that encompassed the centre of London. Today, the District line has the most number of stations on the network and provides a vital link between the east and west of London.
Opening as an extension to the Metropolitan Railway in 1864 with both the Metropolitan Railway and Great Western Railway (GWR) operating services across the line, the Hammersmith and City line provides a vital connection between the east and west of London. The Hammermith and City line was operated as a part of the Metropolitan Railway until 1990 when the route got its own identity.
Opening in 1979 the Jubilee line today began life as a branch of the Metropolitan Railway in 1932, before being transferred to the Bakerloo line in the 1930s. The Jubilee line is the youngest line on the Underground network, before the opening of the Elizabeth line in 2018. The Jubilee line is a popular route between north and east London, much of the route today was the product of a large extension plan called the Jubilee line Extension.
Opening in 1863 as Metropolitan Railway, the Metropolitan line includes the oldest underground railway in the world and starting the whole of the London Underground network. The Metropolitan line today has had many changes and alterations, however, the line remains as popular as ever, with various proposals to improve the service.
Opening in 1890 as the City and South London Railway (CSLR) and in 1906 as the Charing Cross Euston and Hampstead Railway (CCEHR) the Northern line is the product of the amalgamation of two separate railways. The Northern line today has the longest continual tunnel on the London Underground network, the railway provides two vital links though the financial and entertainment hearts of London.
Opening in 1906 as the Great Northern Piccadilly and Brompton Railway (GNPBR), the Piccadilly line was the product of a company called the Underground Electric Railway Companies of London (UECL) who also constructed the Bakerloo and parts of the Northern line toady. The Piccadilly line received much of its route today from the Metropolitan District Railway (MDR) during the 1920s and 1930s, however, remains the only line to currently service Heathrow Airport, until the opening of the Elizabeth line in 2018.
Opening in 1968 the Victoria line was the first full-scale automatic railway in the world and with its whole route being submerged it has a unique trait on the London Underground Network. Today the Victoria line provides a vital north to south route that connects some of the most popular places along the west end of London.
Opening in 1898 as the Waterloo and City railway, this is the second deep-level underground railway to open in the world. The railway never joined the London Underground family until 1994, being a part of the mainline railway network.