Subways: Chronology

1860

Work begins on London’s Metropolitan Railway, using the cut-and-cover construction method; this method involves digging a trench in the street above the railway, constructing a brick tunnel over the tracks, and then restoring the surface of the street.

1863

The world’s first subway system, London’s Metropolitan Railway, opens, carrying 9,500,000 passengers in its first year of service.

1866

Work begins on what will become London’s “tube” line; to avoid causing disruption to the streets above, twin tunnels are excavated in a layer of clay approximately 60 feet below ground.

1870

In New York, in a 312-foot tunnel under Broadway, a subway car is operated by pneumatic pressure created by a giant fan; operation ceases in 1873.

1890

London’s “tube” line opens; while earlier trains were steam-powered, all trains on the line now run on electric power.

1896

In Budapest, an electric subway begins operation.

1898

Boston’s subway begins operation; it is the first subway system in the United States.

1898

Work begins on the Métro subway in Paris, using a variation of the cut-and-cover construction method that causes less disruption of street traffic.

1900

The Métro begins operation in Paris with 6.25 miles of track.

1902

Berlin’s subway begins operation.

1904

The first section of the New York City subway opens.

1908

Philadelphia’s subway begins operation.

1913

The Buenos Aires subway begins operation.

1919

Madrid’s subway begins operation.

1927

Tokyo’s subway begins operation.

1931

Kyoto’s subway begins operation.

1933

Osaka’s subway begins operation.

1935

Moscow’s subway begins operation.

1943

Chicago’s subway begins operation.

1954

Toronto’s subway begins operation; it is the first subway system in Canada.

1955

Cleveland’s subway begins operation.

1966

Montreal’s subway begins operation.

1969

Mexico City’s subway begins operation; this system is modeled after the Métro in Paris.

1971

The Victoria Line of the London Underground is completed; it is the first line to use automatic trains.

1976

San Francisco’s BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) system, the first completely automatic subway system, is completed.

1976

The Washington, D.C., Metro begins operation.

1979

Atlanta’s subway begins operation.

1983

Baltimore’s subway begins operation.

1984

Miami’s subway begins operation.

1993

The Los Angeles subway begins operation.

2000

Moscow’s subway system has the largest ridership, approximately 3.2 billion annually.

2000

With 256 miles of track, the London Underground has more track than any other subway system in the world.

2000

New York’s subway system has more cars (6,273) and more stations (463) than any other system in the world.