Who conceived the underground railway system first?
First UNDERGROUND RAILWAY
The first UNDERGROUND RAILWAY was conceived by Charles Pearson, the City Solicitor and Liberal member for Lambeth, who submitted plans for the undertaking to the Royal Commission on Metropolitan Railways in 1846. The North Metropolitan Railway Co. was founded in 1853, and after a considerable delay because of financial difficulties the first shaft was sunk at Euston Square, London in January 1860. The 4-mile-long Metropolitan Railway was eventually opened to fare-paying passengers at 6 a.m. on 10 January 1863. There were seven stations, with termini at Farringdon Street and Paddington, and the journey took 33 min overall. Passenger compartments were lit with gas which, according to the Daily Telegraph, `in some instances was turned on so strong in the first-class carriages … that newspapers might be read with ease’. On the opening day, six engines each drawing four carriages left at 15 min intervals, and made a total of 120 journeys in both directions, carrying over 30,000 passengers.
The District Line was opened from High Street, Kensington, to Gloucester Road on 1 October 1868. The South Kensington Station also served the Gloucester Road-South Kensington track of the Metropolitan Line, so for the first time it was possible to change from one Underground train to another.
