The transport system now known as the
London Underground began in 1863 with the
Metropolitan Railway, the world's first underground railway. Over the next forty years, the early
sub-surface lines reached out from the urban centre of the capital into the surrounding rural margins, leading to the development of new commuter suburbs. At the turn of the nineteenth century, new technology—including
electric locomotives and improvements to the
tunnelling shield—enabled new companies to construct a series of "tube" lines deeper underground. Initially rivals, the tube railway companies began to co-operate in advertising and through shared branding, eventually consolidating under the single ownership of the
Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL), with lines stretching across London.
In 1933, the UK Government amalgamated the UERL and the Metropolitan Railway as a single organisation, named the
London Passenger Transport Board. The London Underground has since passed through a series of administrations, expanding further by the construction of new extensions and through the acquisition of existing main line routes, culminating in its current form as part of
Transport for London, the capital's current transport administration, controlled by the
Greater London Authority.
This timeline lists significant dates in the history of the network. Station names shown are current names; many stations have previously had different names.
Charles Pearson, Solicitor to the
City of London, begins promoting the idea of an underground railway to bring passenger and goods services into the centre of the city.[3]
DR opens between
South Kensington and
Westminster. The
MR extends to connect to the
DR at South Kensington and both companies operate services over the other's tracks.[8]
Tower Subway opens, briefly, using a cabled-hauled carriage before conversion to pedestrian use. Constructed using a circular
tunnelling shield developed by
Peter W. Barlow and
James Henry Greathead and lined with segmental cast-iron rings, this short tunnel under the River Thames successfully demonstrated new tunnelling techniques that would be used to construct most of the subsequent underground lines in London.[15]
City of London financiers establish Metropolitan Inner Circle Completion Railway to complete the
Inner Circle by linking the
DR's terminus at
Mansion House with the
MR's planned terminus at
Aldgate.[19]
MR begins publication of Metro-land its annual guide promoting the use of its line for commuting and leisure. The name becomes synonymous with the developing suburbs north-west of the capital served by the railway.[51]
LPTB announces the
New Works Programme, a five-year plan to modernise and extend the Underground network and to take over and electrify a number of main line routes.[59]
A German bomb explodes in the
Central line ticket hall at
Bank, killing 56 people.[70]
1943
Overcrowding by members of the public entering the air-raid shelter at the unopened station at
Bethnal Green causes the death of 173 people by crushing.[70]
A
Central line train derails at
Chancery Lane when a motor falls from the underside of a carriage.[103] Following investigations, modifications are made to all
1992 stock trains.
^
abPowell, W R, ed. (1966). "Economic influences on growth: Local transport".
A History of the County of Essex. Vol. 5. pp. 21–29.
Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
^Baker, T.F.T.; Elrington, C.R., eds. (1982). "Chiswick: Communications".
A History of the County of Middlesex. Vol. 7. pp. 51–54.
Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
^Baker, T.F.T.; Elrington, C.R., eds. (1980). "Friern Barnet: Introduction".
A History of the County of Middlesex. Vol. 6. pp. 6–15.
Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
^Baker, T.F.T.; Elrington, C.R., eds. (1980). "Hornsey, including Highgate: Communications".
A History of the County of Middlesex. Vol. 6. pp. 103–107.
Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
^Powell, W R, ed. (1966). "The ancient parish of Barking: Introduction".
A History of the County of Essex. Vol. 5. pp. 184–190.
Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
Rose, Douglas (1999) [1980]. The London Underground, A Diagrammatic History. Douglas Rose/Capital Transport.
ISBN1-85414-219-4.
Wolmar, Christian (2004). The Subterranean Railway: How the London Underground Was Built and How It Changed the City Forever. Atlantic Books.
ISBN1-84354-023-1.
Woodhouse, Lt Col E (1938).
Accident near Charing Cross(PDF). Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
The transport system now known as the
London Underground began in 1863 with the
Metropolitan Railway, the world's first underground railway. Over the next forty years, the early
sub-surface lines reached out from the urban centre of the capital into the surrounding rural margins, leading to the development of new commuter suburbs. At the turn of the nineteenth century, new technology—including
electric locomotives and improvements to the
tunnelling shield—enabled new companies to construct a series of "tube" lines deeper underground. Initially rivals, the tube railway companies began to co-operate in advertising and through shared branding, eventually consolidating under the single ownership of the
Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL), with lines stretching across London.
In 1933, the UK Government amalgamated the UERL and the Metropolitan Railway as a single organisation, named the
London Passenger Transport Board. The London Underground has since passed through a series of administrations, expanding further by the construction of new extensions and through the acquisition of existing main line routes, culminating in its current form as part of
Transport for London, the capital's current transport administration, controlled by the
Greater London Authority.
This timeline lists significant dates in the history of the network. Station names shown are current names; many stations have previously had different names.
Charles Pearson, Solicitor to the
City of London, begins promoting the idea of an underground railway to bring passenger and goods services into the centre of the city.[3]
DR opens between
South Kensington and
Westminster. The
MR extends to connect to the
DR at South Kensington and both companies operate services over the other's tracks.[8]
Tower Subway opens, briefly, using a cabled-hauled carriage before conversion to pedestrian use. Constructed using a circular
tunnelling shield developed by
Peter W. Barlow and
James Henry Greathead and lined with segmental cast-iron rings, this short tunnel under the River Thames successfully demonstrated new tunnelling techniques that would be used to construct most of the subsequent underground lines in London.[15]
City of London financiers establish Metropolitan Inner Circle Completion Railway to complete the
Inner Circle by linking the
DR's terminus at
Mansion House with the
MR's planned terminus at
Aldgate.[19]
MR begins publication of Metro-land its annual guide promoting the use of its line for commuting and leisure. The name becomes synonymous with the developing suburbs north-west of the capital served by the railway.[51]
LPTB announces the
New Works Programme, a five-year plan to modernise and extend the Underground network and to take over and electrify a number of main line routes.[59]
A German bomb explodes in the
Central line ticket hall at
Bank, killing 56 people.[70]
1943
Overcrowding by members of the public entering the air-raid shelter at the unopened station at
Bethnal Green causes the death of 173 people by crushing.[70]
A
Central line train derails at
Chancery Lane when a motor falls from the underside of a carriage.[103] Following investigations, modifications are made to all
1992 stock trains.
^
abPowell, W R, ed. (1966). "Economic influences on growth: Local transport".
A History of the County of Essex. Vol. 5. pp. 21–29.
Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
^Baker, T.F.T.; Elrington, C.R., eds. (1982). "Chiswick: Communications".
A History of the County of Middlesex. Vol. 7. pp. 51–54.
Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
^Baker, T.F.T.; Elrington, C.R., eds. (1980). "Friern Barnet: Introduction".
A History of the County of Middlesex. Vol. 6. pp. 6–15.
Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
^Baker, T.F.T.; Elrington, C.R., eds. (1980). "Hornsey, including Highgate: Communications".
A History of the County of Middlesex. Vol. 6. pp. 103–107.
Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
^Powell, W R, ed. (1966). "The ancient parish of Barking: Introduction".
A History of the County of Essex. Vol. 5. pp. 184–190.
Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
Rose, Douglas (1999) [1980]. The London Underground, A Diagrammatic History. Douglas Rose/Capital Transport.
ISBN1-85414-219-4.
Wolmar, Christian (2004). The Subterranean Railway: How the London Underground Was Built and How It Changed the City Forever. Atlantic Books.
ISBN1-84354-023-1.
Woodhouse, Lt Col E (1938).
Accident near Charing Cross(PDF). Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 23 August 2009.