ABSTRACT

During the nineteenth century, railways served almost all demands for mechanized transport, including those within urban areas. Specialized urban railways developed in the largest centres, notably the London Underground system from the opening of the Metropolitan Line in 1863. A number of main-line railway companies also developed a strong interest in suburban traffic, especially where long-distance demand was limited. Thus, the railways to the south of London displayed markedly greater interest than those to the north and west. Given the longevity of rail infrastructure, this pattern continues to affect present-day network structure, south and east London being mainly reliant on surface railways, the north and west on the Underground.