District Line 150
THE history of London Underground's Metropolitan Line is a very precise and definitive story, representing the launch of the world’s first inner-city underground metro railway system. It had an opening ceremony and inaugural special train service between Paddington and Farringdon for the Lord Mayor and guests on January 9, 1863, with public services commencing the following day. Nailing down when the District Line became a railway in its own right, however, is a little more complicated.
The success of the first underground railway quickly created demand for more to the main line stations around London – in effect, the birth of the idea of a Circle Route. Permission was granted for the Metropolitan Railway to extend its railway east towards Tower Hill, whilst another organisation, the Metropolitan District, was permitted to begin construction south from Paddington to South Kensington.
The Metropolitan and Metropolitan District Railways jointly owned some of
