On This Day in 1863, World's First Underground Railway Opens

On 10 January 1863, London witnessed the opening of the Metropolitan Railway, the world’s first underground passenger railway. The line ran from Paddington (Bishop’s Road) to Farringdon Street, covering about 3¾ miles beneath the busy streets of central London. Steam locomotives pulled wooden carriages lit by gas lamps, filling the tunnels with smoke and steam. The line offered Londoners a faster alternative to horse-drawn omnibuses and congested streets, marking the start of a new era in urban transport.

The concept of an underground railway had been promoted for years, most notably by Charles Pearson, a solicitor to the City of London. He argued for a network linking the mainline termini and easing surface congestion, enabling commuters to reach the City more quickly. Parliamentary approval for the Metropolitan Railway was granted in 1854, but construction did not begin until 1860, delayed in part by financial issues and the Crimean War. The “cut-and-cover” method was used to build the tunnels, involving digging trenches along the route, constructing brick-lined tunnels, and restoring the streets above.

Construction presented a range of technical challenges. Engineers had to navigate buried rivers, existing foundations, and utilities. Stations were relatively simple, with wooden platforms and gas lighting, yet the railway represented a significant engineering achievement for its time. By January 1863, the line was complete, ready to carry passengers beneath streets they had only traversed on foot or by carriage.

Public interest was immediate and enthusiastic. Thousands of Londoners travelled on the line in its early days, drawn by the novelty of travelling underground in steam-filled tunnels. Contemporary reports noted both the excitement and the discomfort caused by smoke and heat, but the railway quickly proved its utility as a faster and more reliable mode of transport into central London.

The Metropolitan Railway also influenced the development of the city and inspired other urban transport projects. Later expansions, including the Metropolitan District Railway, helped create a network that eventually formed the Circle Line. Early operational challenges led to improvements in ventilation, safety, and eventually the adoption of electric trains, shaping urban railway engineering for decades.

Looking back from the present day, the opening of the Metropolitan Railway was a transformative moment for London. It not only provided a practical solution to congestion but also reshaped commuting and urban life. The line laid the foundation for the modern London Underground, a system that now serves millions of passengers every day and remains a defining feature of the city’s infrastructure.