page_title: History of rapid transit
hierarchical_section_title: History of rapid transit
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Tunnelmund der Beach Pneumatic Railway von einer der beiden Stationen aus gesehen. Auf dem Schlussstein über dem Eingang standen eigentlich die Worte PNEUMATIC / 1870 / TRANSIT. Im Tunnel ist der Wagen mit dem Zugführer zu sehen. English: Tunnel entrance of the Beach Pneumatic Railway as seen from one of the two stations. The keystone actually spelled the words PNEUMATIC / 1870 / TRANSIT. The car with the conductor outside is just approaching.
context_page_description: The history of rapid transit began in London with the opening of the Metropolitan Railway, which is now part of the London Underground, in 1863. By World War I, electric underground railways were being used in Athens, Berlin, Boston, Buenos Aires, Budapest, Glasgow, Hamburg, Liverpool, New York City, Paris, and Philadelphia.
  In the 21st century, China became the world's leader by number of rapid transit systems as well as the fastest growth of such systems, and many other Asian countries began construction of their own rapid transit systems.
context_section_description: The history of rapid transit began in London with the opening of the Metropolitan Railway, which is now part of the London Underground, in 1863. By World War I, electric underground railways were being used in Athens, Berlin, Boston, Buenos Aires, Budapest, Glasgow, Hamburg, Liverpool, New York City, Paris, and Philadelphia.
  
  In the 21st century, China became the world's leader by number of rapid transit systems as well as the fastest growth of such systems, and many other Asian countries began construction of their own rapid transit systems.
caption: The Beach Pneumatic Transit system was a failed attempt to develop mass transit in New York which occurred in 1870.
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