Record #00446Transport archive
London's Metropolitan Railway opened between Paddington and Farringdon Street on 10 January 1863, becoming the first underground urban passenger railway. It initially used steam rather than electric traction.
Achievement date
1863
1863-01-10
Mid-nineteenth-century London lacked convenient rail links between its major terminal stations. The Metropolitan Railway was built mainly by cut-and-cover construction and opened with approximately 3.5 miles of track.
Steam locomotives initially hauled wooden passenger carriages, creating ventilation and smoke challenges. Electrified underground railways came later.
The line connected important rail terminals including Paddington, King's Cross and Farringdon and became the foundation of London's Underground network.
The record conclusion has sufficient verification support.
Basis: direct confirmation by an authority
London Transport Museum and Transport for London date the Metropolitan Railway's public opening to 10 January 1863, with approximately 40,000 first-day journeys. This is the first urban underground passenger railway, not the first electrified or deep-bored line.
Current Entry identifies the current entry in this archive; it does not establish that the record is still held today.
The record value on this page is organized from the public sources above. Measurement methods may differ; JiLuDB follows the unified method described for each entry.
Help keep the archive accurate
If a fact has changed, a value is incorrect, or you know a more authoritative source, leave a note. Feedback enters an administrator review workflow and never edits a record directly.
ARCHIVE VISUAL / 01
NOT TO SCALE
