The Architecture of the Glasgow Subway

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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:21 Original Architecture
05:33 Post-Modernisation Architecture
09:38 Conclusions
This video covers the glasgow subway and the changes this system has been through. Opening as the third oldest subway in the world after London and Budapest. The Glasgow Subway is one of the only subways in the world to never be expanded. This system was originally a cable railway before being electrified. During the 1970s a series of modernisations works caused the system to completely close before reopening.
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Music: Epidemic Sound
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ABOUT JORDAN REEVE
A full-time planner, Jordan Reeve specialises in creating videos about the built environment to tell its stories. The topics cover the historical development of cities alongside psychogeography-style walks, which aims to uncover the urban environment as well as pose questions about the space and place in which we live, work, and play. He lives in Newcastle Upon Tyne and attempts to showcase the modern face of a former industrial city, which is still finding its way in regeneration.
#glasgow

[@LadyGavGav]

Living within a manageable distance of Glasgow, I've used the Subway many hundreds of times. Although there's far less to say about the system than its London cousin, I always enjoy hearing about its history. I think it's often overlooked as a topic because it's perceived almost as a 'toy train' when in fact it helps to take pressure off the buses and surface rail.

[@JordanReeve]

Its a useful system for getting around the city centre and nearby neighbourhoods, that shouldn't be overlooked due to its size.

[@uk-martin4905]

I knew nothing about this system - other than it existed - and found this short video fascinating to the extent that I would like to learn more about it.

[@5688gamble]

I love how you have the new Partick interchange, it is very near the transport museum- we took our son. When you walk around back towards Anderston, you REALLY get to see the juxtaposition between good urban planning and the kind of urban planning that should get you shot! Right by a museum of better times!

[@137Rita]

Thanks Jordan. I visited the Glasgow subway for the first time last year and found your film very interesting. It's amazing to think that the subway is much smaller than the Metro - both in size of network and the actual trains!

[@gordonjohnston8321]

Interesting video, I do love the unique charm of the Glasgow subway. New rolling stock has just been started in passenger service, I'll be interested to revisit it one day and try it out.

[@BABYCHAOS26]

I didn’t even know Glasgow had an underground. As always thank you for a brilliant video.

[@JordanReeve]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Vince_uk]

I didn't get the notification for this for some reason so just catching it now. Very interesting video Jordan.

[@littlebull8881]

Great work as always Jordan.

[@lazrseagull54]

Glasgow, Liverpool and Newcastle are very lucky. It's a shame that most British cities missed the boat in the late 20th century, when cities all over Europe were opening their first subway lines, which probably wouldn't be considered feasible today. When Belgrade opens its first 2 metro lines at the end of this decade, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds will be the largest, 2nd largest and 3rd largest European cities with no underground network. This is counting cities that have underground lines as part of their tram network (stadtbahn/premetro). The smallest city with a subway network is currently Lausanne, Switzerland (pop. 146k), a city the size of Burnley or Huddersfield.

[@sglenny001]

I can't help but think that was the plan of the labour party in 1979 but we got Thatcher instead

[@JordanReeve]

Its a shame that most mid- large size uk cities are metro-less.

[@sglenny001]

@@JordanReeve ok then I would be curious what architecture style should leeds and the rest west Yorkshire use

[@JD-wn3cc]

Wow, it looked really glum in the 70s before the renovation. Crazy to think it got into that state in relatively modern times. I know it's not a huge system, but if you were to close it today to carry out that level of works to the entire system, you'd be looking at c.£100 billion, given the costs these days to upgrade any rail or road network

[@johng1420]

Very good indeed...

[@carterfamilychannel]

Great video such a shame they wiped away so much history of this underground system, Liverpool’s underground always fascinates me there is still a lot of history left, it opened in 1886!

[@JordanReeve]

I had not looked into the age of the liverpool undergound and never realised it was so old. Will have to check this out in the future.

[@johnburns4017]

Liverpool has about 4 miles of tunnel awaiting reuse. A large underground burrowing junction was built south of Central station, then Thatcher's cuts came in. The 1.5 mile Wapping tunnel was not connected.

[@MrBillmcminn]

Visiting Glasgow in the summer 1988, I remember seeing the exterior of the Subway (still called the Underground back then) stations, didn’t actually go on a ride. From what I’ve seen on KZbin videos enclosing the station platforms that had the natural light coming down from sky lights was a big loss. I could see how that was inspired by the original cut and cover stations on the London Underground. It’s interesting that London has been getting back to that in some stations on the Jubilee Line extension, Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station stations, and on the Elizabeth Line

[@jackwillis6787]

very interesting

[@johnburns4017]

Glasgow Subway was the 4th underground railway. 2nd was the Mersey Railway 1886, with underground and subsurface stations. *1* London 1863 *2* Liverpool 1886 *3* Budapest 1896 *4* Glasgow 1896

[@JordanReeve]

Thanks for pointing this out John, I didn't realise this

[@johnburns4017]

@@JordanReeve The 1893 Liverool Overhead Railway (an elevated metro) started at the south end in an underground station. It was the first designed from scratch fully electric metro. The 1890 City & South London underground railway was electric, however it was first designed as a cable pulled railway opting for electric traction in windowless cars, as the cable contractor went bust. Liverpool Overhead was first with colour signal lights, EMUs, etc.

[@benwoollin2136]

Babe wake up Jordan Reeve just posted

[@MBrady1970]

Never even knew Glasgow had an underground...great video Jordan 👍

[@JordanReeve]

Thanks!

[@pdsnpsnldlqnop3330]

I find the island platforms and fluorescent lighting to be utterly terrifying. I need a solid wall, like what you have on London Underground, where island platforms are a rarity. It is just a psychological thing, almost like claustrophobia, with a irrational fear of falling on the electric rails. Having said that, the above ground part of the stations and the branding is wonderful. If you can read then there is no need for each station to have its own different colour scheme and visual identity. Such things are always going to be secondary indicators to where you are, signage in the trains and on the platforms is always what you need to know if you are getting off at the right stop. One thing I would like to see is an end to pointless advertising for whatever the fad is today in the stations, whether that be an ecommerce store such as a relaunched 'Debenhams' or for 'Shein'. These adverts are just plain tacky. What would be better? More permanent adverts for the businesses that are above ground in the vicinity. If you are English, don't call it the 'clockwork orange' or the 'underground'. It is the Subway.

[@garymclaren9532]

Stay close to the govan station on this many times a day the best and quickest way to get round the city the good old clockwork orange

[@ianrickard3175]

Why doesn't Newcastle count?

[@johnburns4017]

Count for what?

[@jvgreendarmok]

@@johnburns4017 As another underground railway in the UK outside London, I assume.

[@JordanReeve]

the audio clip was from before newcastles metro was built

[@johnburns4017]

@@jvgreendarmok Newcastle does have an underground urban rail network for sure. But irrelevant to this vid.

[@jvgreendarmok]

@@johnburns4017 It's relevant to the opening voiceover.

[@MZig-rw7su]

What a truly ugly colour scheme and logo. They don't even look like station signs. I bet it all runs at a loss every year paid for by the taxpayer as a vanity project that should be shut down.