It was the dawn of 1863, and London's not-yet-opened subway system — the first of its kind in the world — had the city in an uproar. Most people thought the project, which cost more than 100 million dollars in today's money, would never work. So how did they do it? Christian Wolmar explains how the London Underground was built at a time when no one had built a railway under a city before.

1. How the world's first subway system was built - Christian Wolmar
https://youtu.be/VdZd5zYTKAw
It was the dawn of 1863, and London's not-yet-opened subway system — the first of
its kind in the world — had the city in an uproar. Most people thought the project,
which cost more than 100 million dollars in today's money, would never work. So how
did they do it? Christian Wolmar explains how the London Underground was built at a
time when no one had built a railway under a city before.
1.- In what year was the world’s first subway line completed?
A1763
B1840
C1863
D1893
E1963
2.- How long was the first line?
A1 mile
B2 miles
C4 miles
D5 miles
E23 miles
3.- On the first day, how many people traveled on the line?
A250
B1,000
C10,000
D25,000

2. E30,000
4.- The first line was built using what method?
ATrench digging
BPneumatic drilling
CDynamite explosion
DDeep tube digging
ECut and cover
5.- After 30 years, London’s subway system had extended to _______.
A10 kilometers
B15 kilometers
C50 kilometers
D80 kilometers
E180 kilometers
6.- What factors led to London becoming the site of the first subway?
7.- Why are two different methods used to build subways?
8.- Why did the world have to wait until the mid-19th century to get its first subway?
The building of subway systems, often known as metros, should be viewed in the
wider context of the development of railroads across the world. The first lines,
including the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in the UK and the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad in the United States, were developed in 1830. Within a few years,
many other nations followed suit.
Until then, no one had traveled faster than a galloping horse. Now, whole states—
and nations—could be crossed in less than a day. The changes this brought about
affected every aspect of life in the second half of the 19th century. On an
economic level, industries grew into much larger enterprises. On a social and
cultural level, people were now able to travel long distances for vacation. The

3. railways ruled the world for about a century until they were displaced by the motor
car and, later, the airplane. But they still play a vital role in the 21stcentury, such
as carrying a large proportion of America’s freight, which continues to help cities
function efficiently.
To learn more about the London Underground, check out the Subterranean Railway,
written by the educator. Other publications about the evolution of transportations
systems include Blood, Iron, and Gold and The Great Railroad Revolution.
DSCUSS
In what ways does a subway system help a city and its population?