How the Underground was Built for Speed

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I know it doesn’t seem that way sometimes, but speed and efficiency were built into the very fabric of the London Underground. Let’s look at how.
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[@OntarioTrafficMan]

My favourite speed feature of the deep tube lines is that the tunnel dips down between stations so that the train accelerates and decelerates more quickly while using less energy. This happens on the Central and Picadilly lines as well as Crossrail.

[@gpan62]

"London Transport" always sounded better than "Transport for London". I mean, do we really need that preposition?

[@CorvoFG]

I’d rather the Bakerloo line didn’t try to go any faster. I fear those carriages may actually shake apart as it is. I’m looking forward to the day when I can finally say that the rolling stock is actually younger than me.

[@frogandspanner]

I hate the American "Rapid Transit". Transit means "Passing", as in the transit of Venus across the Sun. Rapid transit is when the bus driver can't be bothered to stop to pick you up and drives by at high speed.

[@mrjoneseastend]

Another reason for stations having different tile designs was literacy, back then a good propostion of the population couldn't read or write.

[@n17hero]

UER board meeting. Yerkes stands and clears his throat "Gentlemen. I feel the need...The need for speed."

[@lhlfrb]

And "Hello all" is back. I can sleep peacefully tonight, knowing the Mysterons have been vanquished and normal service has resumed 😊

[@TrevorTrottier]

An illiterate population is also a reason for symbol based signage.

[@rivran]

I like that the end-spiel about rapid transit is just a little quicker than usual.

[@tinplategeek1058]

It must be Punday.

[@dangerousandy]

6:23

[@timsully8958]

People used to talk of how they struggled to remember how they coped before television: then people struggled to remember how they coped with just three channels; then they struggled to remember how they coped without mobile phones: and similarly, I am now struggling to remember how I coped without my regular Jago fix 🤔

[@catfort.dragon]

"It really is an all in one

[@dangerousandy]

Multiple Units: “they were definitely the way forward”

[@JTS21]

Heya Jago, love the videos. How the hell do you keep pumping theses out at such speed!? Legend

[@TheWolfHowling]

Jago, are you planning on making a video about the Monument/Bank complex and how/why the stations were “combined”?

[@aquilarossa5191]

The only channel I like before watching the video. I do it because I like seeing another Jago video about the Tube or whatever London being posted.

[@PopeLando]

Thanks for this. The Yerkes tubes are my Tube. They are the station styles I grew up with and have always loved. I lived on the Northern Line and preferred going through the Charing Cross branch. I never before realised how the separated lines yet joined stations were such a huge innovation. Nice work!

[@Bunter.948]

I think I'm right (it doesn't happen often) in saying that deep tube lines drop away from platforms to increase acceleration, and (of course) rise in approaching them to aid de-acceleration. I don't think this engineering was used by conventional railways. And I don't know if such as the Metropolitan (and other shallow lines) do that. I hope that's helpful. Simon T

[@roo.stewart]

I thought you might mention the slight gradients into and out of deep level stations which help the trains to decelerate and accelerate as they enter and exit stations. Reminds me of the first sneaky ‘drop’ which is apparent on some modern rollercoasters.