London underground tube fares, time tables, maps

A remarkable feature which is enthralling as well is the London Underground, the oldest and one of the busiest underground railway networks in the world. The history and background of London's unfathomable railway is engrossing.

The London Underground or London Tube as is popularly known started as several separate train lines carrying passengers in central London. The pioneering idea of putting the trains subversive came about because of the necessity to transport passengers from the main lines more into central London.

For the reason that of moderation and overfilling, the grand train lines could only go through the outskirts of London Tube. In the start, any railway tunneling underground had to purchase the buildings that it went through under. This was done because many felt that the underground digging destabilized the foundations of buildings. This explains why many of the earliest Underground lines trail major streets. There were no buildings above; therefore, the railway saved money. In 1912 Frank Pick was selected as the head of the office of commercial manager for expanding Underground. He created an easily recognized logo. Even though every station was different architecturally and aesthetically, he created regularity through signage and easily identifiable symbols of the Underground. A very important part of London culture is the London Underground. Phrases like Mind the Gap developed into one and the same with the Underground. The Underground onis like the veins of a living being. It carries life all the way through the arteries of London. Devoid of this precious link, Londoners would have to resort to the above ground transportation.

One of the most interesting things is the altering history of the railway, of which there is still much concealed proof. For example as you travel between Tottenham Court Road and Holborn on the Central Line and you'll see a station - where no passengers have got off since 1932. This used to be British Museum station. Or possibly you may notice the tunnel wall transform from cast iron tubing to bricks as you pass through on the Piccadilly Line between Green Park and Hyde Park Corner. This also used to be a station. Down Street and British Museum were closed at the same time. These stations are often known as ghost stations.

There are about 40 redundant or rearranged stations on the Underground network along its entire 255 miles (408Km) of track way - some below ground and some above ground. Some are nowhere to be found without trace whereas others are almost intact, grubby time capsules of the era when they were closed.

A few bits of trivia which discloses interesting facts of the London Tube Underground:

1. In view of there are 287 tube stations many of them have been given 1 and 2 serial no.

2. There are only 50 steps in Chancery Lane station which has the shortest escalator on the system.

3. The distance between tube stations of Leicester Square and Covent Garden is the shortest - 0.16 miles.

4. The most well-liked route for sightseer is Leicester Square to Covent Garden on the Piccadilly line.

5. Fish and Parcels is the vernacular name for the District Line.

6. The most favorite time to commit suicide in the tube is 11am.

7. The carriages were built in the 1860's and people were smaller at that time which is one of the reasons why you'll find your journey so uncomfortable today.

8. In the starting the escalators made of wood, but also the legs of the people who verified them. Wooden legged Bumper Harris was engaged to travel in the London Tube first escalator to prove that it was safe.

9. All these stations are underground and not having aboveground building- Regent's Park, Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park Corner and Bank.

10. The air in the underground is approximately 10°C hotter than the air on the exterior.

11. People who commit suicide by throwing themselves under tube are called "one-unders". In New York they are known as "track pizza". Choose your preference.

12. Only one person was ever born in a tube wagon and her name is Thelma Ursula Beatrice
Eleanor.

13. The Gappe is a little known bird/bat like creature, which only tube announcers can see and we are often told to mind them.

14. Victoria and King's Cross has recorded the highest number of tube suicides every year. This isn't surprising as Victoria is the tube's most busy station having 85 million passengers each year and King's Cross has 70 million passengers each year.

15. A delicate scent was introduced to make the tube smell better.

London Tube Underground is starting a massive modernization project to set right decades of chronic under-investment by successive governments. However, these improvements will not be delivered overnight. But it will take time for that money to make a regular difference to your journeys on the Tube. I cannot be promised that escalators won’t ever break down again, if one does, it will repaired it quickly.

Travel advice and information

• Children under five can travel free when they are with a ticket holder. They must not occupy seats when other customers have to stand.

• Children aged five to 15 may travel at Child Rate.

• For details of whether your child needs a photocard to get Child rate travel.

• Try and avoid traveling with children during the peak hours.

• For the pushchair a special gate is provided, please ask a member of staff for assistance.

• You are allowed to bring folding prams onto trains. But not during peak hours.

• On escalators, please stand to the right and hold onto the handrail. Avoid standing near the edge of the steps.

London Tube

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© Copyright 1995- ApartmentsUSA.com^sm
All rights reserved.