London Underground 150th anniversary

On 10 January 1863 the first train travelled from Farringdon to Paddington on what became the London Underground.

Today there are 4,134 coaches running on 249 miles of track carrying more than three million passengers each day between 270 stations at an average speed of 20.5 mph.

London Underground tube map

Click to view full size image

As London Underground celebrates its 150th anniversary, ICE is highlighting the role of civil engineers in constructing and maintaining one of the world's most famous transport networks.

Alongside a series of events promoted by ICE London, more on the history and construction process of each of the 11 lines that make up the London Underground will be provided throughout 2013:

  • February: Metropolitan Line
  • March: District Line
  • April: Circle Line
  • May: Northern Line
  • June: Waterloo and City Line
  • July: Central Line
  • August: Bakerloo Line
  • September: Picadilly Line
  • October: Victoria Line
  • November: Jubilee Line
  • December: Hammersmith and City Line

London Underground 150th anniversary lecture programme

ICE London in association with Tube 150, Bechtel and RCEA is delivering 4 free lectures throughout 2013 that highlight particular aspects of civil engineering related to the network.

The lecture dates are:

Useful links

 
 

The Metropolitan Line

Opened to the public on 10 January 1863, the Metropolitan Line is the oldest line on the London Underground network.

Challenges during the construction phase including overcoming public skepticism, re-laying roads over tunnels in some of the busiest parts of London and the plague.

In association with

The 2013 lecture programme is being delivered in associataion with Tube 150, Bechtel and RCEA.

London Underground 150 anniversary logo

Bechtel logo

Railway Civil Engineers Association logo

Background Reading

The ICE has a large collection of archived publications relating to the Underground and details can be seen here.