London's Transport Network Trivia

History of the Roundel.

London has to be one of the most interconnected cities in the world. From its 86,000 buses to its 4,100 underground trains, you can reach every part of the capital... and beyond.

Then there is the River Boat service and the Tram network. And that is before you get on to the Elizabeth line, the interlinked London Overground lines and National Rail lines

The London Underground system is composed, currently, of 11 distinct lines, serving 272 stations over 400 kilometres (250 miles). The station of Ongar is 'point zero' for measurements along the network.

Below you will find some trivia for each of the lines. 

('Speed' is an average for the entire line).

Bakerloo

First service: March 10, 1906

Length: 23.2 km (14.4 mi)

Stations: 25

Speed: 27 km/h (16 mph)

Central

First service: July 30, 1900

Length: 74 km (46 mi)

Stations: 49

Speed: 37 km/h (23 mph)

Circle

First service: 1863

Length: 27 km (17 mi)

Stations: 36

Speed: 24 km/h (15 mph)

District

First service: December 24, 1868

Length: 64 km (40 mi)

Stations: 60

Speed: 30 km/h (18 mph)

Hammersmith & City

First service: January 10, 1863

Length: 25.5 km (15.8 mi)

Stations: 29

Speed: 25 km/h (15 mph)

Jubilee

First service: May 1, 1979

Length: 36.2 km (22.5 mi)

Stations: 27

Speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)

Suggested names: Fleet line

Metropolitan

First service: January 10, 1863

Length: 67 km (42 mi)

Stations: 34

Speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)

Northern

First service: December 18, 1890

Length: 58 km (36 mi)

Stations: 52

Speed: 33 km/h (20.5 mph)

Suggested names: Edgmor line, Edmorden line, Medgeway line, Mordenware line, Tootancamden line 

Piccadilly

First service: December 15, 1906

Length: 45.96 mi (73.97 km)

Stations: 53

Speed: 33 km/h (20.5 mph)

Victoria

First service: September 1, 1968

Length: 21 km (13 mi)

Stations: 16

Speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)

Suggested names: Mayfair line, Viking line, Walvic line, West End line

Waterloo & City

First service: August 8, 1898

Length: 2.37 km (1.47 mi)

Stations: 2

Speed: 33 km/h (20.5 mph)

London's Transport Network is more than just its train infrastructure.

Below you will find some trivia about other services. 

('Speed' is an average for the entire line).

Bus

First service: July 4, 1829

Length: n/a

Stations: 19,000+

Speed: 15 kp/h (9.4 mph - 10 mph)

Cable Car

First service: June 28, 2012

Length: 3.600 ft (1,100 m)

Stations: 2

Speed: 22 km/h (14 mph)

DLR

First service: August 31, 1987

Length: 38 km (24 mi)

Stations: 45

Speed: 64 km/h - 80 km/h (40 mph - 50 mph)

Elizabeth

First service: May 24, 2022

Length: 117 km (73 miles)

Stations: 41

Speed: 95 km/h - 145 km/h (60 mph - 90 mph)

Suggested names: Churchill line, Crossrail

Overground

First service: November 11, 2007

Length: 167 km (103.8 mi)

Stations: 113

Speed: 72 km/h - 121 km/h (45 mph - 75 mph)

River

First Service: 1999

Length: 35 km (22 mi)

Stations: 33

Speed: 8 knots - 12 knots

TFL Rail

First service: May 31, 2015

Length: 59 km (36 miles & 54 chains)

Stations: 32

Speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)

Trams

First service: May 10, 2000

Length: 28 km (17 mi)

Stations: 39

Speed:  35 km/h (22 mph)