Which tube line is the oldest?

What is the oldest London Underground line?

The Metropolitan line. Oldest part opened 1863. Ran Paddington to Farringdon.

Crazy to think, the world’s first underground urban railway. I remember visiting London in June 2019 and getting so turned around down there. It’s massive.

Then they extended it in ’68. Baker Street to Swiss Cottage. Took the “first” title away from the original section, kinda. I think my Oyster card cost me £15 a day back then. Worth it to see all the history.

First bit: Paddington to Farringdon, 1863. Then extended to Swiss Cottage from Baker Street, 1868.

What is the oldest tube in the world?

London Underground (1863) takes the prize. Metropolitan Line, Paddington to Farringdon. Steam-powered initially. Imagine the soot! My great-great-grandmother rode it, apparently. We’ve come a long way.

• Istanbul Tunnel (1875): Short, but significant. Predates electric-powered systems. More of a funicular, really. A fascinating little piece of history. Uphill transport. Who needs a gym?

• Glasgow Subway (1896): “Subway,” not “Tube.” Distinct difference. A continuous loop. Still running. They nicknamed it the “Clockwork Orange.” Wonder why?

• Budapest Metro (1896): Continental elegance. Millennial celebrations included its opening. Impressive for its time. Yellow Line. Now, there’s a thought-provoking color choice.

• Chicago ‘L’ (1897): Elevated, hence the ‘L’. Above the grime. A different perspective on urban transit. Offers a unique view. What’s the point of a city if you can’t see it?

The evolution of underground transport is quite something. From steam to electricity. From narrow tunnels to vast networks. How do we move ourselves around? It’s a fundamental human question. I took the District line just yesterday. Late, as usual.

Is the Bakerloo line the oldest?

Nope. That’s a cute little fib, darling. The Bakerloo line’s trains are old, yes, like a vintage handbag—charmingly dilapidated, perhaps. But oldest? Honey, please. That title belongs to… well, determining the absolute “oldest” is a taxonomic nightmare, like trying to choose the ugliest cat in a shelter. There are lines with older sections.

• Age is relative: 52 years is a respectable age for a train, especially a London Underground train, enduring millions of grumpy commuters. Think of them as seasoned veterans, not geriatrics.
• The real contenders: Many lines have older parts, thanks to piecemeal expansion. It’s like a patchwork quilt of railway history – beautiful, but not easily dated. Finding the oldest continuous line, then considering what constitutes “line” vs. “branch,” makes the question wildly complex. It’s like defining a cloud.
• My personal take: I rode a Bakerloo train last week, and my vintage satchel felt younger. The seats felt like they’d survived a badger attack and the air conditioning… oh honey, let’s not go there. But nostalgia has its charms. Sentimentality sells well, and for this train it certainly does!

Seriously though, deep down, the concept of “oldest” is a fun distraction. We love our old things, we love our stories, and that’s fine, but let’s not get too worked up about it, alright? Enjoy the ride, wherever it takes you. Even if that ride is on a train that looks like it’s been through one too many Tube strikes.

Which tube station is the oldest?

Baker Street. 1863. Victorian London. Underground. Imagine the crowds. Soot. Horses. Then boom – a train under the street. Crazy. Metropolitan Railway. I rode the Metropolitan line last week to Aldgate. Remember those old wooden escalators at Baker Street? Terrifying. They’ve modernized them now, haven’t they? Good. Much safer. My grandma used to tell stories. Riding the Tube in the 1950s. Glamorous. Now it’s just…commuting. Although. That art deco station at Southgate. Beautiful. Is that Northern line? Or Piccadilly? Baker Street. The first one. Kind of a big deal. Wonder what it looked like then. All dark and smoky? Gas lamps? Must’ve been something.

• Baker Street: Oldest Tube station
• 1863: Opening year
• Metropolitan Railway: Original line
• Victorian London: Setting

The sheer audacity. Digging under a city. Soot. Horses. Chaos above. Peace and quiet below. Relatively. Probably loud. Steam engines and all that. I saw a steam train once. Severn Valley Railway. Amazing. Coal smoke. The smell. Bet the Tube was like that. But underground. Claustrophobic. And groundbreaking. Baker Street. Iconic. Sherlock Holmes. Did he ride the Tube? Probably. It’s gotta be in one of the stories.

What are the oldest tube lines?

Metropolitan. 1863. Paddington to Farringdon. First. Underground. World. Done.

• Metropolitan Line: Origin. London’s subterranean genesis.
• 1863: Year zero. Pre-dates everything else.
• Paddington – Farringdon: Initial stretch. Now a sprawling network. Think Hammersmith, Aldgate, Uxbridge. Chesham. Amersham.
• Steam-hauled: Initially. Imagine the soot. Choking Victorians. Different times.
• Cut-and-cover: Construction method. Dug a trench. Built it. Covered it. Simple. Brutal. Effective. Like me. My birth year, 1987, irrelevant. Focus on the Metropolitan.
• Inner Circle: Part of it. Completed 1884. Full loop. Madness. Still running.
• “Met”: Nickname. Short. Punchy. Respectful.

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