Portal:London transport

The London transport portal

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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
The A215 road is an A road in South London. It runs from Elephant and Castle in the London Borough Lambeth to Shirley in the London Borough Croydon via Walworth Road, Camberwell Road, Denmark Hill, Herne Hill, West Norwood and South Norwood. Beginning as Walworth Road, the A215 becomes Camberwell Road—much of which is a conservation area—after entering the former Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell. Crossing the A202, the A215 becomes Denmark Hill, originally known as Dulwich Hill, but renamed in 1683 to commemorate the marriage of Princess Anne (later Queen Anne) to Prince George of Denmark. After passing Herne Hill railway station the road becomes Norwood Road, Knights Hill, and then Beulah Hill at its crossroads with the A214. Beulah Hill was the site of Britain's first independent television transmitter, built by the Independent Television Authority in 1955. Descending towards South Norwood the A215 becomes South Norwood Hill and then Portland Road, just after crossing the A213. A short section starting at the junction with Woodside Green is known as Spring Lane, leading to Shirley Road, the final section into Shirley, Croydon. (Full article...) All selected articles
Selected biography
John Rennie (the Elder) (7 June 1761 – 4 October 1821) was a Scottish civil engineer who designed many bridges, canals, and docks. Rennie, a farmer's younger son, was born at Phantassie, near East Linton, East Lothian, Scotland. He showed a taste for mechanics at a very early age. After studying at the University of Edinburgh he worked briefly for James Watt in Staffordshire before moving to London in 1784. In London, he worked first as a mechanical engineer before setting up his own business in 1791 at Holland Street, Blackfriars and expanding into the designing of civil engineering projects. Rennie designed many canals, bridges and docks around the United Kingdom and Ireland as well as harbours and lighthouses. Amongst the projects designed by Rennie in London were previous versions of Vauxhall Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Southwark Bridge and London Bridge and the London, East India and West India Docks. After his death, Rennie's sons George and John founded the engineering company J. and G. Rennie. (Full article...) All Selected biographies
Did you know...
...that the ticket hall at Bank station is partly built in the crypt of Nicholas Hawksmoor's church, St Mary Woolnoth? ...that Sir Jacob Epstein's statute Day on the Underground's headquarters at 55 Broadway caused controversy when it was unveiled due to the length of the penis on one of the figures? Epstein later reduced the length. ...that two people have had their coffins transported on the Underground: William Gladstone and Dr Barnardo? ...that trains on the Waterloo & City line never see the light of day? ... that the Royal Commission on London Traffic proposed constructing 9 miles (14 km) of avenues with railways underneath at the cost of £30 million in 1905? More Did you know...
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Selected pictures

Image 1Early style tube roundel in mosaic at Maida Vale Underground station.
Image 255 Broadway, headquarters of the UERL and its successors, is a Grade I listed building in Westminster designed by Charles Holden.
Image 3Vauxhall Bridge across the River Thames opened in 1906 and features sculptures by F. W. Pomeroy.
Image 4Tower bridge; a bascule bridge across the River Thames.
Image 5The 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 6Tram 2548 calls at Arena tram stop. This is one of the trams on the Tramlink network centred on Croydon in south London.
Image 7Shaftesbury Avenue from Piccadilly Circus, in the West End of London, 1949.
Image 8Day (left) and Night (right) sculptures by Sir Jacob Epstein on the London Underground's headquarters at 55 Broadway.
Image 9Woolwich Ferry boats "John Burns" and "James Newman" on the River Thames, 2012.
Image 10Southern approach to the Rotherhithe Tunnel that runs under the River Thames in east London between Rotherhithe and Limehouse.
Image 11Qantas Boeing 747-400 about to land at Heathrow Airport, seen beyond the roofs of Myrtle Avenue, Hounslow.
Image 12An air raid shelter in a London Underground station during The Blitz.
Image 13London 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 14Ruislip Lido Railway's 12-inch (300 mm) gauge locomotive "Mad Bess" hauling a passenger train.
Image 15Archer statue by Eric Aumonier at East Finchley Underground station.
Image 16The south façade of King's Cross railway station London terminus of the East Coast Main Line.
Image 17Preserved AEC Routemaster coaches in London Transport Green Line livery.
Image 18Eurostar Class 373 trains at St Pancras station.
Image 19Original stations on the Metropolitan Railway from The Illustrated London News, 27 December 1862.
Image 20Hammersmith Bridge, opened in 1887, crosses the River Thames in west London.
Image 21London Overground Class 378 train on the East London Line in Hoxton.
Image 22Victoria line 2009 Stock train at Euston.
Image 23The 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 24Clapham Common Underground station north and south-bound platforms on the Northern line.
Image 25"Boris Bikes" from the Santander Cycles hire scheme waiting for use at a docking station in Victoria.
Image 26Albert Bridge, opened in 1873, crosses the River Thames between Chelsea and Battersea.
Image 27Stockwell bus garage, Stockwell, a Grade II* listed building.
Image 28Thames Clippers service catamaran on the River Thames.
Image 29Hornsey Lane Bridge, Archway, more commonly known as "Suicide Bridge".
Image 30Rail, road and river traffic, seen from the London Eye.
Image 31Sailing 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 32Camden Lock or Hampstead Road Lock in Camden Town, north London is the only twin lock on the Regents Canal.
Image 33Central London Railway poster, published in 1905.
Image 34The New Routemaster built by Wrightbus has three entrances, two staircases and is designed to be reminiscent of the Routemaster.
Image 35Helicopter landing at London Heliport, a jetty constructed in the River Thames in Battersea.
Image 36A tram of the London United Tramways at Boston Road, Hanwell, circa 1910.
Image 37Gondolas of the Emirates Air Line cable car cross the River Thames from Greenwich Peninsula to Royal Docks.
Image 38London Underground Battery-electric locomotive L16 designed to operate over tracks where the traction current is turned off for maintenance work.
Image 39A Hansom cab at Somerset House.
Image 40London 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 41View of Old London Bridge, circa 1632 by Claude de Jongh.
Image 42Planes waiting at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4.
Image 43Escalators at Westminster Underground station descend between beams and columns of the station box to reach the deep-level Jubilee line platforms.
Image 44The original Hampton Court Bridge in 1753, the first of four on the site.
Image 45Duck tour converted DUKW amphibious vehicle exiting the River Thames.
Image 46The western departures concourse of King's Cross railway station.
Image 47TX4 London Taxi at Heathrow Airport.
Image 48The Circle routes of Victorian London, comprising the Inner Circle, Middle Circle, Outer Circle and Super Outer Circle.
Image 49Arguably 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).