The London Underground, the world’s oldest and probably best known subterranean railway, is celebrating its 150th birthday this week. (Featured image is by az1172)
Since its launch in 1863, the Tube has become as much a symbol of London – and Britishness – as double-decker buses and rain.
The Underground’s first journey took place on January 9 1863, when a steam-powered train headed out of Paddington Station bound for Farringdon.
It was an instant hit with Victorian Londoners, and carried 40,000 passengers on its first day. London has never looked back.
The Tube has had its ups and downs over the years (most commuters would tell you that it’s had mostly downs), but there’s no doubt that London would fall apart without it.
It may not be the biggest – that accolade goes to the New York Subway – but it is a testament to British innovation and engineering. It set the standard for other cities around the world to follow, and its iconic logo and branding is instantly recognisable.
A number of events are taking place in the coming weeks and months to celebrate the Underground’s esteemed history, starting with a recreation of that inaugural journey.
There will also be a special exhibition at the London Transport Museum and series of commemorative stamps and coins.
To celebrate the world’s first underground railway system turning 150-years-old, we thought we’d take a look at some of the weird and wonderful ways people get from A to B around the world.
Istanbul, Turkey
We often think of New York City as having the second-oldest underground railway in the world, but that title goes to a different city altogether.
In 1874, Istanbul opened the Tünel – an inclined railway that pulls a tram up and down a hill using a cable.
The Tünel is just over half a kilometre long, and serves a 60-metre height difference between the coast of the Golden Horn and the Beyoğlu district.
Though covering a relatively small distance, the Tünel has been such a success that another inclined railway was added in 2006.
Central America
They may look like novelty buses designed to carry hen parties through the street of Magaluf, but the so-called “chicken buses” are an integral part of life in central America.
Commonly found in the rural parts of countries such as Guatemala and Panama, chicken buses are a lifeline for many locals.
Offering cheap, reliable (to a point) travel, chicken buses are the only way of getting from village to village for many locals.
So, where does the unusual name come from? Don’t be surprised to see chickens taking up seats on the buses, as they are transported to or from market.
Cuba
Unfortunately, one of the oddest modes of public transport in the world – the camel bus in Cuba – has been taken out of service.
Having said that, we’re not sure locals will miss them all that much; these huge human container ships could carry up to 200 passengers and were known for being dirty, smelly and even violent on occasion.
Dubbed camel buses because of their two humps, these beasts of the road were somewhat out of keeping with the colourful cars and buses that Cuba’s roads are known for.
Japan
When we think of transport in Japan, we inevitably think ‘Bullet Train’, a network of high-speed rail lines that connect the country’s major cities.
The Bullet Train, or Shinkansen as it’s known in Japan, feels like an ultra-modern transport system, but has been in operation since 1964.
Since then it has expanded to consist of more than 1,400 miles of track, pushing the boundaries of rail travel speeds.
Test runs have reached 275mph for conventional rail travel, while Maglev trains – which use magnetic levitation technology – have reached a record-breaking 361mph.
Isle of Wight
It’s not just underground that we Brits are masters of… we’re also pretty good over water too. The hovercraft used by ferry company Hovertravel between the mainland and the Isle of Wight are the longest-running commercial hovercraft in the world.
The Hovercraft was once a popular mode of cross-sea transport, offering a smoother journey across the roughest of seas.
They have been largely replaced over the years by catamarans, but you can still take a ride on one across the Solent in less than 10 minutes – the fastest of any sea transport.
