What is the underground rail system called in London?
the Tube
London Underground, also called the Tube, underground railway system that services the London metropolitan area.
How do London Underground trains work?
The Underground is electrified using a four-rail system, the DC traction supply being independent of the running rails. Planned improvements include new stations, line extensions and more lines with automatic train operation (ATO).
What are the 11 lines on the London Underground?
Jubilee line.
Are London underground rails electrified?
The Underground is one of the few railways electrified on the four-rail system. In addition to the two running rails there are two rails that supply power to the trains, one outside the running rails electrified at +420 V DC, the other in the middle at -210 V, producing an overall traction supply voltage of 630 V.
What is the oldest underground station in London?
The London Underground opened in 1863 and is the oldest underground system in the world. With its first stretch having run between Paddington and Farringdon Street, the first line formed part of what is now the Circle, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan underground lines.
How fast do London Underground trains go?
20.5 miles per hour
The average speed on the Underground is 20.5 miles per hour, including station stops. On the Metropolitan line, trains can reach over 60 mph.
Why is Bakerloo line called that?
Why is it called the Bakerloo line? A journalist coined the nickname Bakerloo in a newspaper column as a contraction of the Baker Street & Waterloo Railway, shortly after it opened in 1906, and it was quickly adopted by the company. Early maps feature the full name, but by summer 1908 Bakerloo was used.
How deep does the London Underground go?
For example, the tube varies greatly in depth, but is typically 24m. The deepest point is below Hampstead Heath at Bull and Bush (where a station was part-built, but never completed), which reaches 67m.
Why do tube trains have open buttons?
> The reason is speed of entry and exit. In the 1990s Tube bosses realised that dwell time at stations would be reduced if the doors were opened by the driver, rather than waiting for passengers to press the button.
What is the oldest line in London?
The Metropolitan line
The Metropolitan line is the oldest underground railway in the world. The Metropolitan Railway opened in January 1863 and was an immediate success, though its construction took nearly two years and caused huge disruption in the streets. Read more about the Metropolitan line.