The Oldest Subways in the World
Public transport is a comfortable and fast way of getting around big cities, in fact, millions of people use it every day. Here at Civitatis, we want to reveal some of the oldest subways in the world, a few of them are more than a century old!
Subway, metro, underground… Don’t miss the most interesting facts about these exciting railways, in no particular order– read on to find out more!
London Underground History (1863) – the oldest tube line
The underground or tube in London is the oldest transport system of its kind in the world. It opened on 10th January 1863 with steam locomotives. Today, there’s an underground network of 408 kilometres (253 miles) of active lines that will take you anywhere in the city. Don’t miss the London Transport Museum if you fancy finding out more fun facts about one of the oldest subways.
The Istanbul Tunnel (1875)
The Tünel was the first underground train in continental Europe. This pioneer began running in 1875 and, despite its short distance of 573 metres (626 yards), it carries 12,000 passengers every day. Make sure to visit on your next trip to Istanbul, the whole journey will only take you 90 seconds! You can also take the opportunity to enjoy a trip to Cappadocia.
Glasgow Circular Underground (1896)
In 1896, the only line for the Glasgow Metropolitan Railway, one of the oldest subways in the world, began to run. Today, this network is maintained on an exclusive basis. If you’re travelling in the area, you must take a trip to Loch Ness – will you be visiting the mythological beast?
Budapest’s historic metro line (1896)
The Budapest metro has a total of 52 stations and only four lines. What is so special about the Budapest metro system? Line 1 was launched in 1896 and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. Some stations still have decor that will take you back to another era. If you visit this city by the Danube, we recommend taking a guided tour of its most iconic spots.
Chicago ‘L’ (1897)
Do you know why the Chicago ‘L’ is one of the oldest subways in the world? Because it started operating on 6th June 1897, at the end of the 19th century! The origin of its name comes from the word “elevated”, as there are parts where the train comes to the surface. It’s the third busiest subway in the United States, with an average of more than 600,000 people a week. If you’ve purchased the Chicago Explorer Pass, you’re sure to use this subway to see all the city’s attractions.
It’s the third busiest underground in the United States, with an average of more than 600,000 people a week.
The Paris Metropolitain (1900)
The fastest way to visit the iconic monuments around the ‘city of love’ is to use the métropolitain de Paris, one of the oldest subways in the world. The first line was inaugurated on 19th July 1900, and during its early years, a number of wrought-iron stations, influenced by the art nouveau movement, were installed. If you feel like exploring the historic centre, you can take a fascinating free tour – you’re sure to love it!
The Berlin U-Bahn (1902)
The U-Bahn reaches 72 kilometres per hour, has 175 stations and almost 150 kilometres of track. This network, which was opened in 1902, has gone through different historical periods. During the Second World War it was used as a bunker and from 1945 until 1989 East Berlin citizens were restricted on the underground lines.
New York, the subway that never closes (1904)
If you’ve visited the ‘Big Apple’, you’re sure to have had your picture taken with the subway sign. New York has one of the oldest subways in the world, which opened for the first time in 1904. It was built by 30,000 workers and on its first active day, 127,381 people used it. To visit iconic landmarks such as the Empire State or the MoMA, you’ll have to use this transport system. It’s even open 24 hours a day!
The Philadelphia SEPTA (1907)
This oldest subway has sections that run above and below ground. The network of tracks began in 1907, with 208 stations today, it’s the fastest way to see one of the oldest cities in the United States. If you want to learn about the history of Philadelphia, you can visit the Museum of the American Revolution.
Madrid Metro (1919)
Gran Vía, Sol, La Latina, Moncloa… These symbols of Madrid can be visited by public transport. The capital has one of the oldest subways in the world and the oldest in Spain. It was King Alfonso XIII who inaugurated it on 17th October 1919, which meant a change in the rhythm of life for the people of Madrid. If you’re visiting the city, don’t miss the abandoned Chamberí station. You can also round off your getaway with a ghost tour – don’t panic!
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Philadelphia\’s Suburban Station was the terminus of the Pennsylvania Railroad\’s Main Line, class-I railroad.
The approach to the terminus was originally above grade. The lines were placed below ground to accomodate the \”Transportation Building\” as it came to be known, and it served as the head office of the railroad from 1930.
Strictly speaking Suburban Station is not a subway station.
The most interesting Philadelphia subway station was built beneath (and without disturbing) the existing City Hall building, which includes the tallest masonry-only tower in the world. It connects to area buildings and other lines through a labyrinth of tunnels
City Hall station was the centerpiece of a system of rapid transit designed by A. Merritt Taylor and opened in 1915.
Correction. The groundbreaking for the City Hall station was 1915. It was not actually completed until 1928
This is wrong. Buenos Aires subway system is older than Madrid. Line A is from 1913.
Why isn\’t Hamburg Metro on the list? It opened in 1912
Boston is left off the list even though the Tremont underground subway was the first in the United States. Construction having started in 1895 and opened to the public in 1897, parts of the original tunnels and stations are in use in this colonial historic city. Boston gave us the revolution and the subway. Chicago had mass transit but it was elevated – not subterranean. Boston’s was before New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Paris’ Metro. Pretty big oversight and questions the research done for a supposed informative article.
Buenos Aires. May have been built by the Brits, but it still counts.
Boston, 1897.
Hi Laura, thank you for taking the time to leave a comment! You’re totally right, the MBTA subway opened in 1897, making it the oldest transit subway in the USA which is still in use today. We’ll be sure to update the blog accordingly. Thanks again!
AFAIK the second (after London) was in Liverpool in 1886. The one record I believe it holds is that it was the first proper railroad under a river.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mersey_Railway#:~:text=The%20railway%20opened%20in%201886,oldest%20underground%20railway%20outside%20London.
Still runs. Been there, born there, done that – plus 5 of the other non-medallists.
Hi Paul, thank you for your comment! It’s true that the Mersey Railway Tunnel opened in 1886, though we didn’t include it in our list as it wasn’t a subway system per se. That said, it was certainly an incredible architectural achievement. Cheers!
Check your research. You forgot Buenos Aires, which first line opened in 1913…
Hi Luis! You’re right! We’ll be sure to add Buenos Aires to our list when we next update the post. Thank you!
Buenos Aires subway is older than Madrid.
Hi! Thanks for your comment. We’ve taken a look into it and you’re right! We’ll be sure to add Buenos Aires to our list when we next update this post. Thank you again!