London Underground transportation

London Underground Transportation

Alcohol is banned by the Transport for London (TfL) from the Tube, buses, Docklands Light Railway, tram services and stations.

Colloquially known as the Tube, London Underground Transport System is the oldest metro system in the world. The London Underground network is a combination of various formerly independent train services.  The earliest of these was the 'Metropolitan Railway', running on a four mile section of what is now called the Bakerloo line, running between Paddington and Farringdon St.  This line first started service on 10 January, 1863.

The official London Underground began in 1890 when an electrically-powered line was opened between King William Street and Stockwell. More than 3 million passengers travel on the Underground every day.There are now 12 lines plus the Docklands Light Railway with a current 275 stations on the 12 lines.

Please note that the Underground does not run 24 hours a day, (except for at New Year and on major public events, as it closes at night for maintenance work. First trains on the network start operating around 04:30, running every 3 to 8 minutes until around 01:30.

Overcrowding is common on the Underground, particularly at Camden Town station and Covent Garden. Restrictions are introduced at those stations when necessary. Clapham Common and Clapham North on the Northern Line are the last remaining stations with a single narrow platform with tracks on both sides. At particularly busy occasions, such as football matches, British Police may be present to help with overcrowding. On 24 September 2007, King's Cross underground station was totally closed due to "overcrowding".

In summer, temperatures on parts of the London Underground can become very uncomfortable due to its deep and poorly ventilated tube tunnels: temperatures went as high as 47°C (116 °F) in the 2006 European heat wave. Keep a water bottle handy to cool you down. Wear layered clothes so you can remove off some clothing while on the trains.

Note that the underground trains do not have toilets on board.  Some of the stations might have toilets most of these are pay toilets.

Regular underground service runs from 0530 to just after midnight. The gap in service during the night is bridged by a new night bus service.

Service problems

It is wise to check if there are problems with Tube services before you travel, especially if it is important to arrive on time.
Problems with the normal services are common. Planned engineering works are often carried out at weekends or on public holidays: replacement bus services should operate, but journey times may be much longer than normal.

Some other useful tips when using the Tube:

• Avoid travelling during the rush hours if at all possible
• Check the front of the train for the correct destination
• Stand on the right when using escalators 

How to travel on the London Tube

For a first timer, travelling on the Tube is an overwhelming experience. The number of criss-crossing tunnels, the south bound, north bound, which line to take - in general you tend to feel at a complete loss. Don't. There is actually a method to the madness.

First, go to the nearest Tube station and arm yourself with a tube map. This is your bible. Hold it close to your chest at all times and study it at all times. Also remember that you must have an appropriate ticket for every journey. The easier way of avoiding the long queues at the ticket counters is to buy the Oyster Card and keep refilling it.

You next move across the ticket barrier gates which will open for you when you remove your ticket. Move towards the ones in green. Remember that the tube is old and most of the stations are not disabled (or suitcase) friendly. So if you've got a large suitcase and it won't pass through the barrier, look for manual entry/exit gates manned by a person. Feed your ticket into the barrier gate as soon as the person before you has taken their ticket back. You don't need to wait for the person to get through the gates and for them to close again.

Next, look for any white board notices of change of timings or info of any lines shutting down for maintenance. The notices will also have the timings of the next train. Make sure that the train you are on is heading in the direction you intend to travel.  Usually trains are described as 'northbound' or 'southbound' (or east/west). The other issue is to be sure that the train is actually going where you want to go.  Some platforms have trains for several different lines all stopping there, and so you'll need to be sure that the train you need is the train you're getting on.

TUBE ETIQUETTE

Below are some rules about correct behaviour when using the Tube in London:

- If you are lost or waiting for someone, stand to one side or next to a wall - try not to get in people's way, especially near the top of escalators or near ticket barriers

- Stand on the right on escalators (moving stairs). People who are in a hurry walk up the left side, and they will be annoyed if you are standing there.

- When the Tube train arrives stand to the side of the doors to let people get off the train easily. Get on the train only when all passengers who want to get off have done this.

- Wait for the next train if the doors on a train are about to close when you arrive on the platform. Never hold the Tube doors open - it is dangerous and causes delays.

- When you get into a crowded lift or train, move inside as far as you can, so that other people can easily get on behind you. Don't lean against the doors: this may stop the train from moving.

- If you have large bags, get on the train using the double doors in the centre of a carriage, no the single door at the front or back of a carriage. Make sure that your bags do not get in the way of other passengers.

- Offer to give up your seat if you see someone who needs to sit down - for example, someone who is old, disabled, pregnant or who has young children. These people may need a seat close to the doors.

- Try not to eat while on the train, especially hot food or anything which gives off smells.

- Smoking is illegal everywhere on the Tube (for safety reasons).

- You are not allowed to drink alcohol on the Tube. Throw away any opened cans or bottles of alcohol before you try to enter a station.

- Take any rubbish with you when you leave the train (you can put it in a bin when you are outside again). For security reasons there are no litter bins in underground stations.

- Do not take a photograph using flash while you are on the platform. If a train is coming the driver will be temporarily blinded by the flash, and this may affect safety.

- Always respect the Tube's members of staff. Remember that it is not their fault if there are delays or problems.

Free Tube Maps and Guides

Transport for London produces free maps and guides to help you get around. You can pick them up upon arrival at any Tube station. London Travel Information centres sell tickets and provide free maps. There are centres at all Heathrow Airport terminals, major stations in London and the Britain and London Visitor Centre.

Maps - the colour-coded London Underground map is a familiar site to travelers. It is simple to follow, but when planning a journey please be aware of the number of transfers your journey will take. Many stations contain miles of corridors and numerous staircases, which can make traveling with heavy suitcases a real chore. A longer journey with fewer transfers between lines will be less troublesome if you are carrying luggage.

Tickets - You should consider an Oyster card and/or a Travelcard to get the best fares and beat the queues. You can buy tickets either from automated machines or at a ticket window. You will need to keep your ticket until you have passed throiugh the gates at your destination station. Be aware that ticket inspectors randomly police the Underground and there is a £10 fine for invalid tickets.

Cheaper by Oyster

Oyster card prices are always cheaper than paper tickets for the Tube. The cash single fare for all journeys via Zone 1 is £4, up to £2.50 more than the Oyster fare.