10 interesting facts about the London Underground

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Geography
Year 3
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10 interesting facts about the London Underground
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Focus Education
Focus Education
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The London Underground is an iconic and expansive network, stretching an impressive 249 miles beneath the city's streets. This vast network dwarfs the distance between Hull and London, which is a mere 204 miles. With an average speed of 20.5 miles per hour across the network, including time spent at station stops, the Underground is a rapid transit system. However, on the Metropolitan line, trains can reach speeds exceeding 60mph, showcasing the system's capacity for speed.

Waterloo Station emerges as the champion of the morning rush, with an influx of around 57,000 people during the peak three-hour window. Unique among its peers, the Jubilee Line boasts connectivity with every other Underground line, illustrating its central role in the network. With 270 stations, the London Underground offers unparalleled access to the city. During World War II, the Piccadilly line played a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation's treasures by storing artifacts from the British Museum. Canary Wharf, the bustling financial district, sees a staggering 40 million individuals pass through its station annually, which spans the length of two football pitches. Adding a touch of mystery, the network includes 49 abandoned ‘ghost' stations. Contrary to popular belief, over half of the Underground, around 55%, actually runs above ground. Lastly, Aldgate station harbours a sombre history, being constructed over a plague pit from 1665, with over 1,000 bodies lying beneath it.