Portal:London transport

The London transport portal

London transport

The London transport system is one of the oldest and largest public transport systems in the world. Many components of its transport system, such as the double-decker bus, the Hackney Carriage black taxi and the London Underground, are internationally recognised symbols of London.

Most transport services in London are controlled by Transport for London (TfL), an executive agency of the Greater London Authority. TfL-controlled services include the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, the London Overground, Buses and Trams, most of which accept payment by the Oyster card. TfL also administers the congestion charge zone and the low emission zone.

London has a comprehensive rail network with several major railway stations linking to the rest of the country. International travel is possible from St Pancras International which connects to mainland Europe through the Eurostar service, or from one of six international airports, including Heathrow or Gatwick.

The M25 is an orbital motorway which enables vehicles to avoid travelling through central London and is one of the busiest motorways in Europe.

More about transport in London


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Selected article
Stratford station is a railway station in the London Borough of Newham, East London served by National Rail, London Underground and Docklands Light Railway lines. It is in Travelcard Zone 3. Stratford station was opened in 1839 by the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR). London Underground Central line services started on 4 December 1946. Services were extended to Leyton on 5 May 1947 and then on to the former London and North Eastern Railway branch lines to Epping, Ongar and Hainault progressively until 1949. The Docklands Light Railway opened on 31 August 1987 reusing redundant rail routes through the Bow and Poplar areas to reach the new Docklands developments on the Isle of Dogs. The Low Level station (served by the North London line) underwent a major rebuilding programme in the late 1990s as part of the Jubilee Line Extension works. This saw the construction of a large steel and glass building designed by Wilkinson Eyre and a new replacement booking hall. The Jubilee line opened to passengers on 14 May 1999, with services initially running only as far as Canning Town station. Read more... All selected articles
Selected biography
James Henry Greathead (6 August 1844 - 21 October 1896) was a civil engineer known for his pioneering development of tunnelling techniques and for his work on London's underground railways. In 1869, working under Peter W. Barlow, he became engineer in charge of driving the tunnel of the Tower Subway under the River Thames using a tunnelling shield he designed based on Barlow's own slightly earlier patented design. Greathead developed and patented a number of improvements to the Barlow shield and the improved design carried their joint names. Greathead also developed the use of a segmented cast iron lining for the circular tunnel, erected in sections from which the shield was jacked forward. Greathead was then involved in the planning and construction of a number of railways in Britain and Ireland, until, in 1884, he was appointed engineer for the City and South London Railway, the world's first underground electric railway when it opened in 1890. Greathead subsequently worked on the Waterloo and City Railway, the Liverpool Overhead Railway and the early planning of the Central London Railway. (Full article...) All Selected biographies
Did you know...
...that the Underground's architect Charles Holden and LPTB Managing Director Frank Pick were both sons of drapers? ...that the first railway terminus in London was Spa Road station in Bermondsey, opened by the London and Greenwich Railway on 8 February 1836? ...that the longest distance between two adjacent stations on the London Underground is 6.26 km (3.89 miles), between Chalfont & Latimer and Chesham on the Metropolitan line? ...that the Jubilee line was originally to be called the Fleet line because it was originally to run under Fleet Street? ... that the Queen and Prince Charles each travelled on London Underground trains from Green Park tube station when they carried out the official openings of the Victoria and Jubilee lines? More Did you know...
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Selected pictures

Image 1Helicopter landing at London Heliport, a jetty constructed in the River Thames in Battersea.
Image 2Day (left) and Night (right) sculptures by Sir Jacob Epstein on the London Underground's headquarters at 55 Broadway.
Image 3London General Omnibus Company B-type bus B340 built in 1911 by AEC. One of a number of London buses purchased by the British military during World War I, this vehicle was operated on the Western Front.
Image 4Albert Bridge, opened in 1873, crosses the River Thames between Chelsea and Battersea.
Image 5Early style tube roundel in mosaic at Maida Vale Underground station.
Image 655 Broadway, headquarters of the UERL and its successors, is a Grade I listed building in Westminster designed by Charles Holden.
Image 7TX4 London Taxi at Heathrow Airport.
Image 8Hammersmith Bridge, opened in 1887, crosses the River Thames in west London.
Image 9Woolwich Ferry boats "John Burns" and "James Newman" on the River Thames, 2012.
Image 10The newly constructed junction of the Westway (A40) and the West Cross Route (A3220) at White City, circa 1970. Continuation of the West Cross Route northwards under the roundabout was cancelled leaving two short unused stubs for the slip roads that would have been provided for traffic joining or leaving the northern section.
Image 11Victoria line 2009 Stock train at Euston.
Image 12Southern approach to the Rotherhithe Tunnel that runs under the River Thames in east London between Rotherhithe and Limehouse.
Image 13The south façade of King's Cross railway station London terminus of the East Coast Main Line.
Image 14Tram 2548 calls at Arena tram stop. This is one of the trams on the Tramlink network centred on Croydon in south London.
Image 15"Boris Bikes" from the Santander Cycles hire scheme waiting for use at a docking station in Victoria.
Image 16A Hansom cab at Somerset House.
Image 17Vauxhall Bridge across the River Thames opened in 1906 and features sculptures by F. W. Pomeroy.
Image 18Central London Railway poster, published in 1905.
Image 19An air raid shelter in a London Underground station during The Blitz.
Image 20View of Old London Bridge, circa 1632 by Claude de Jongh.
Image 21Shaftesbury Avenue from Piccadilly Circus, in the West End of London, 1949.
Image 22Camden Lock or Hampstead Road Lock in Camden Town, north London is the only twin lock on the Regents Canal.
Image 23Preserved AEC Routemaster coaches in London Transport Green Line livery.
Image 24Escalators at Westminster Underground station descend between beams and columns of the station box to reach the deep-level Jubilee line platforms.
Image 25Tower bridge; a bascule bridge across the River Thames.
Image 26Clapham Common Underground station north and south-bound platforms on the Northern line.
Image 27Planes waiting at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4.
Image 28Hornsey Lane Bridge, Archway, more commonly known as "Suicide Bridge".
Image 29Original stations on the Metropolitan Railway from The Illustrated London News, 27 December 1862.
Image 30Thames Clippers service catamaran on the River Thames.
Image 31London Underground Battery-electric locomotive L16 designed to operate over tracks where the traction current is turned off for maintenance work.
Image 32The original Hampton Court Bridge in 1753, the first of four on the site.
Image 33Stockwell bus garage, Stockwell, a Grade II* listed building.
Image 34London Overground Class 378 train on the East London Line in Hoxton.
Image 35The Circle routes of Victorian London, comprising the Inner Circle, Middle Circle, Outer Circle and Super Outer Circle.
Image 36The multi-level junction between the M23 and M25 motorways near Merstham in Surrey. The M23 passes over the M25 with bridges carrying interchange slip roads for the two motorways in between.
Image 37Ruislip Lido Railway's 12-inch (300 mm) gauge locomotive "Mad Bess" hauling a passenger train.
Image 38The New Routemaster built by Wrightbus has three entrances, two staircases and is designed to be reminiscent of the Routemaster.
Image 39London Underground A60 Stock (left) and 1938 Stock (right) trains showing the difference in the sizes of the two types of rolling stock operated on the system. A60 stock trains operated on the surface and sub-surface sections of the Metropolitan line from 1961 to 2012 and 1938 Stock operated on various deep level tube lines from 1938 to 1988.
Image 40Archer statue by Eric Aumonier at East Finchley Underground station.
Image 41Sailing ships at West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs in 1810. The docks opened in 1802 and closed in 1980 and have since been redeveloped as the Canary Wharf development.
Image 42Duck tour converted DUKW amphibious vehicle exiting the River Thames.
Image 43Gondolas of the Emirates Air Line cable car cross the River Thames from Greenwich Peninsula to Royal Docks.
Image 44Eurostar Class 373 trains at St Pancras station.
Image 45Qantas Boeing 747-400 about to land at Heathrow Airport, seen beyond the roofs of Myrtle Avenue, Hounslow.
Image 46Arguably the best-preserved disused station building in London, this is the former Alexandra Palace station on the GNR Highgate branch (closed in 1954). It is now in use as a community centre (CUFOS).
Image 47The western departures concourse of King's Cross railway station.
Image 48A tram of the London United Tramways at Boston Road, Hanwell, circa 1910.
Image 49Rail, road and river traffic, seen from the London Eye.

All Selected pictures

Anniversaries

8 July

1450 – In the Battle of London Bridge during Jack Cade's Rebellion Londoners force Cade's rebels out of the city with fatalities on both sides.
1876 – Tolls to use Hampton Court Bridge to cross the River Thames are abolished.
1889 – Metropolitan Railway extends from Rickmansworth to Chesham.

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Recognised content

Featured articles (34)

1910 London to Manchester air race • Albert Bridge, London • Aldwych tube station • Albert Stanley, 1st Baron Ashfield • Baker Street and Waterloo Railway • Battersea Bridge • Brill Tramway • Brill railway station • Central London Railway • Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway • Chelsea Bridge • City and South London Railway • Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway • Great Western Railway War Memorial • Green Park tube station • Herne Hill railway station • Charles Holden • London Necropolis Company • London and North Western Railway War Memorial • Marchioness disaster • Metropolitan Railway • Moorgate tube crash • RAF Northolt • Frank Pick • Sinking of SS Princess Alice • Quainton Road railway station • Richmond Bridge, London • Underground Electric Railways Company of London • Vauxhall Bridge • Waddesdon Road railway station • Wandsworth Bridge • Westcott railway station • Wood Siding railway station • Wotton railway station (Brill Tramway)

Featured lists (6)

List of former and unopened London Underground stations • List of London Underground stations • List of London Monopoly locations • List of works by Charles Holden • London station group • Timeline of the London Underground

Featured topics (2)

Brill Tramway • Underground Electric Railways Company of London

Good articles (114)

Good topics (1)

Wikipedia:Good topics/List of London Monopoly locations

Articles