Reading:
The Underground |
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Read through the article about the Underground. When you have finished
reading the article answer the true and false questions at the bottom.
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The Underground is the oldest and largest metro system
in the world.
It runs for 20 hours every day.
Back in the 1800’s London became one of the
world’s most important cities. Its success soon began to cause problems
and its growth reached crisis point.
Traffic became so bad it started to affect
business. It was thought that a railway beneath the streets of London would
relieve this problem.
The Metropolitan Railway opened the world’s first
underground railway in 1863. It ran between Paddington and Farringdon Street.
This stretch of railway was almost 4 miles long. Once the system began there was
no stopping it.
London Underground today is a huge business, as many as 3
million passenger journeys can be made in one day. There are over 275 stations
and 253 miles of track.
One of the main things we associate with the Underground
is the Tube map. The Tube map, which is recognised across the world, was
designed by Harry Beck in 1933.
Harry Beck was an Underground electrical
draughtsman.
He tried to strip the complicated network back down to basics by
basing the map on circuit diagrams. The chart he created became the template for
transport maps across the world.
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Some Tube facts:
- The Tube carries 18 million individual passengers a year.
- There are 408 escalators. Waterloo station has 25.
- Victoria station is the busiest Underground station.
- The London Underground logo was designed in 1913
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Core Curriculum Reference:
Rs/E2.2, Rs/E2.3, Rs/E3.2, Rt/E3.2 |
