Public transport in London
The public transport system in London is very efficient and with its combination of buses, taxis and underground has the largest public transport network in the world.
The earliest forms of public transport in London date back to the 19th century, when the first horse-buses, omnibuses and horse trams appeared. The first omnibus was introduced in London in 1829 and the first motorised bus came out in 1908.
The first double-decker buses came out in the early 1950s and ran by electric poles. The London General Omnibus Co. introduced the Routemaster, the world famous London double-decker, in 1954. The traditional double-deckers are red in colour, apparently to make them more visible. Routemasters were officially pulled off the London streets in 2005 and replaced with new, more modern ones. These have got two doors, as opposed to the old ones that were open at the back and passengers could get on and off the bus even while the bus was moving; they are cheaper as they are one-man operated whereas the traditional double-deckers had a conductor who collected the fares; they are safer and easier for disabled people to get on and off.
The public transport system in London is very efficient and with its combination of buses, taxis and underground has the largest public transport network in the world.
The earliest forms of public transport in London date back to the 19th century, when the first horse-buses, omnibuses and horse trams appeared. The first omnibus was introduced in London in 1829 and the first motorised bus came out in 1908.
The first double-decker buses came out in the early 1950s and ran by electric poles. The London General Omnibus Co. introduced the Routemaster, the world famous London double-decker, in 1954. The traditional double-deckers are red in colour, apparently to make them more visible. Routemasters were officially pulled off the London streets in 2005 and replaced with new, more modern ones. These have got two doors, as opposed to the old ones that were open at the back and passengers could get on and off the bus even while the bus was moving; they are cheaper as they are one-man operated whereas the traditional double-deckers had a conductor who collected the fares; they are safer and easier for disabled people to get on and off.
The London underground railway
system, commonly known as the
Tube, is the oldest in the world,
the Metropolitan Line opened on the 10th
of January, 1863. It covers the largest
area of any underground rail system, with 253 miles of tracks, running to all
areas of central and greater London, and twelve lines serving 270 stations.
Travellers can get underground tickets from a ticket office or from an automatic machine. The fares vary according to distance and at the end of the journey tickets must be given back to the collector who will charge the travellers the difference if they have travelled further than they paid for.
Travellers can get underground tickets from a ticket office or from an automatic machine. The fares vary according to distance and at the end of the journey tickets must be given back to the collector who will charge the travellers the difference if they have travelled further than they paid for.
Taxis, also called cabs, are usually black. The driver is
called a “cabbie” or “cab driver”. Black
cabs can be booked by telephone or hailed in the street. When the yellow
TAXI sign at the front is illuminated, the cab is available for hire. Fares
are metered and there is a minimum charge.
All licensed London taxi drivers need to pass a special test called the Knowledge before they can drive a black cab. They must learn 320 routes that include 25,000 streets of London.
Minicabs can be a cheaper alternative to black cabs, but they must be booked at an office by telephone or email; unbooked minicabs are illegal and unsafe. While their fares are normally reasonable, they are not on a meter and passengers should always ask how much the trip will cost when they make a booking.
All licensed London taxi drivers need to pass a special test called the Knowledge before they can drive a black cab. They must learn 320 routes that include 25,000 streets of London.
Minicabs can be a cheaper alternative to black cabs, but they must be booked at an office by telephone or email; unbooked minicabs are illegal and unsafe. While their fares are normally reasonable, they are not on a meter and passengers should always ask how much the trip will cost when they make a booking.