History of the London Underground

From its creation to the present day, London Underground's 150-year history has been an eventful one.
London Underground milestones
1843
Constructed by Sir Marc Brunel and his son Isambard, the Thames Tunnel opens
1863
On 10 January, The Metropolitan Railway opens the world's first underground railway, between Paddington (then called Bishop's Road) and Farringdon Street
1868
The first section of the Metropolitan District Railway, from South Kensington to Westminster (now part of the District and Circle lines), opens
1869
The first steam trains travel through the Brunels' Thames Tunnel
1880
Running from the Tower of London to Bermondsey, the first Tube tunnel opens
1884
The Circle line is completed
1890
On 18 December, The City and South London Railway opens the world's first deep-level electric railway. It runs from King William Street in the City of London, under the River Thames, to Stockwell
1900
The Prince of Wales opens the Central London Railway from Shepherd's Bush to Bank (the 'Twopenny Tube'). This is now part of the Central line
1902
The Underground Electric Railway Company of London (known as the Underground Group) is formed. By the start of WWI, mergers had brought all lines - except the Metropolitan line
1905
District and Circle lines become electrified
1906
Baker Street & Waterloo Railway (now part of the Bakerloo line) opens and runs from Baker Street to Kennington Road (now Lambeth North). Great Northern, Piccadilly & Brompton Railway (now part of the Piccadilly line) opens between Hammersmith and Finsbury Park
1907
Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead Railway (now part of the Northern line) opens and runs from Charing Cross to Golders Green and Highgate (now Archway). Albert Stanley (later Lord Ashfield) is appointed General Manager of the Underground Electric Railway Company of London Limited
1908
The name 'Underground' makes its first appearance in stations, and the first electric ticket-issuing machine is introduced. This year also sees the first appearance of the famous roundel symbol
1911
London's first escalators are installed at Earl's Court station
1929
The last manually-operated doors on Tube trains are replaced by air-operated doors
1933
The Underground Group and the Metropolitan Railway become part of the London Passenger Transport Board, taking control of all the Capital's railway, bus, tram, trolleybus and coach services
Harry Beck presents the first diagram of the Underground map
1940
Between September 1940 and May 1945, most Tube station platforms are used as air raid shelters. Some, like the Piccadilly line, Holborn - Aldwych branch, are closed to store British Museum treasures
1948
The London Passenger Transport Board was nationalised and now becomes the London Transport Executive
1952
The first aluminium train enters service on the District line
1961
Sees the end of the steam and electric locomotive haulage of London Transport passenger trains
1963
The London Transport Executive becomes the London Transport Board, reporting directly to the Minister of Transport
1969
The Queen opens the Victoria line
1970
The London Transport Executive takes over the Underground and the Greater London area bus network, reporting to Greater London Council
1971
The last steam shunting and freight locomotive is withdrawn from service
The Victoria line extends to Brixton
1975
A fatal accident on the Northern line at Moorgate kills 43 people. New safety measures were introduced
1977
The Queen opens Heathrow Central station (Terminals 1 2 3) on the Piccadilly line
1979
The Prince of Wales opens the Jubilee line
1980
A museum about the birthplace of modern urban transportation, called Brunel Engine House, opens to the public
1983
Dot matrix train destination indicators introduced on platforms.
1984
The Hammersmith & City and the Circle lines convert to one-person operation
1986
The Piccadilly line is extended to serve Heathrow Terminal 4
1987
A tragic fire at King's Cross station kills 31 people
1989
New safety and fire regulations are introduced following the Fennell Report into the King's Cross fire
1992
The London Underground Customer Charter is launched
1993
Reconstruction work on Angel station ended
Work started on the extended Jubilee line from Green Park to Stratford
1994
Penalty fares are introduced
London Underground takes over the Waterloo & City line and responsibility for the stations on the Wimbledon branch of the District line from Putney Bridge to Wimbledon Park
Aldwych station, and the Central line branch from Epping to Ongar closes
1999
London Underground is restructured in preparation for Public Private Partnership
The extended Jubilee line opens, offering through services from Stanmore to Stratford
2003
The Oyster card is introduced
Busking is legalised
2005
52 people are killed in bomb attacks on three Tube trains and a bus on 7 July
2007
The Tube carries one billion passengers in a year for the first time
14 former Silverlink stations transfer to London Underground (LU)
The East London line closes for rebuilding and extension as part of new London Overground network
2008
Piccadilly line extension to Heathrow Terminal 5 opens
Metronet transfers to TfL control
2009
The Circle line changes shape
LU is named Best Metro Europe
2010
The Queen visits Aldgate station
LU achieves Carbon Trust Standard
The first air-conditioned, walk-through Underground train runs on the Metropolitan line
Through services replace the Chesham shuttle
2011
A full fleet of brand new Victoria Line trains become operational;
Green Park becomes step-free to provide easier access to the Victoria, Piccadilly and Jubilee lines in time for the Olympics
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