On 9 January 2013, London Underground celebrates 150 years since the first underground journey took place between Paddington and Farringdon on the Metropolitan Railway.
London Underground, in partnership with London Transport Museum is celebrating with a range of events and activities throughout 2013. The events will explore the Tube’s history and look at the role it will play in the future – both in the lives of Londoners and the economy of the City and the UK.
The original Underground line was built and financed by the Metropolitan Railway, a private company which had been formed in 1854 to undertake the project to link the mainline stations at Paddington, Euston and King’s Cross with the City centre business district to the east.
Travelling on the new railway was a novelty that thousands of Londoners were eager to experience and on the first day of public service – long queues formed at every station. The line was a huge success with 26,000 passengers using the railway each day in the first six months.
The Tube plays a big part in the lives of Londoners, connecting people and places across the capital. 150 Londoners share their stories on the Evening Standard with examples of the positive impact the Tube has had on their lives.
Art on the Underground
During 2013 Art on the Underground will present a programme that will include a major commission by an acclaimed British artist bringing artworks into every station on the Underground. It will also commission 15 leading contemporary artists to create an image as one in a set of 15 artworks as a lasting visual legacy for the anniversary. Other activities include screenings of London Underground themed films from the BFI archive at Canary Wharf station, two new Tube map cover commissions and a new project at Gloucester Road station to round off an ambitious year.