American Reacts to How to Ride The London Underground

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  • čas přidán 23. 11. 2022
  • 👉 Chip in to my visit the UK fund: ko-fi.com/reactingtomyroots
    In this video I react to how to ride the London underground also known as The London Tube. As someone without much experience with underground transportation I found this video really interesting. I still have some questions, but what I learned here will definitely come in handy when I visit the UK and ride on the London Underground for the first time.
    Thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this reaction please give this video a thumbs up, share your thoughts in the comments and click the subscribe button to follow my journey to learn about my British and Irish ancestry.
    👉 Original Video:
    • How to Ride the London...
    👉 Subscribe to my channel:
    / @reactingtomyroots

Komentáře • 908

  • @duntalkin
    @duntalkin Před rokem +259

    A subway in the UK is normally a pedestrian underpass to get across the road safely

    • @chrisinnes2128
      @chrisinnes2128 Před rokem +6

      Not quite in Glasgow

    • @duntalkin
      @duntalkin Před rokem +3

      @@chrisinnes2128 thought that was known as the clockwork orange 🍊

    • @chrisinnes2128
      @chrisinnes2128 Před rokem +3

      No it's called that as a nickname but officially it's called the Glasgow subway

    • @duntalkin
      @duntalkin Před rokem +7

      @@chrisinnes2128 ahh I'm a londoner so ......
      Mind I did say normally a pedestrian underpass just trust Glasgow to be awkward haha 😄

    • @billyhills9933
      @billyhills9933 Před rokem +2

      I remember seeing a Superman cartoon when I was very young, where he flew into an entrance marked 'Subway' and came out with a train! That confused my young mind.

  • @tiempo34
    @tiempo34 Před rokem +221

    Never ceases to make laugh how particularly US youtube providers turn travelling on the London underground into an epic trek on the scale of a Lewis and Clark Expedition. Within 5 min, you'll get it!

    • @ncubesays
      @ncubesays Před rokem +9

      "Gird your loins... here's how you ride the Tube."

    • @ronturner9850
      @ronturner9850 Před rokem +7

      But you also see right past the hype as you did with the so called shocks to be found in London. Love it. Others might already have said this but pronounce the Underground as “Choob” and you’ll be sounding like a local in no time.

    • @williamwilkes9873
      @williamwilkes9873 Před rokem +2

      Ever lived with a yank?

    • @williamwilkes9873
      @williamwilkes9873 Před rokem +3

      Pay..,....get on train.....,soorted...!..

    • @BlameThande
      @BlameThande Před rokem +4

      I don't know, I found it confusing at first as a northerner, though yeah after you've done it a few times it becomes simple.

  • @duntalkin
    @duntalkin Před rokem +20

    Its Kings Cross &
    St Pancras Station
    It's actually two separate main line stations but shares tube station

  • @freewoman4434
    @freewoman4434 Před rokem +89

    I'm from Scotland and had to go to London. I knew I'd have to use the Tube and frankly was a bit scared. Turns out I didn't need to be - the staff were so friendly and helpful and I actually ended up enjoying the experience. I love London. People say it's unfriendly, but whenever I've visited the people have been lovely.

    • @fireyflower6643
      @fireyflower6643 Před rokem +14

      exactly, only unfriendly if you are and dont like chat/interact

    • @marilynmcgregor7810
      @marilynmcgregor7810 Před rokem

      In Glasgow it is called the subway

    • @dorothywarren1441
      @dorothywarren1441 Před 11 měsíci +3

      Thank you! It also I think is the case that in London you don't know if you're going to be meeting a local or a visitor. I think we have different ways of interacting because there is a different 'shorthand' going on.

    • @1eddwood
      @1eddwood Před 3 měsíci

      The subway in New York runs 24 hours but only the freaks and nutters go on it after dark , when we were in New York we were advised to take a cab , the subway is way to dangerous after dark

    • @ramadaxl
      @ramadaxl Před 2 měsíci

      You should see the reaction I get lol. Even though I live in London more often than not I wear my Kilt !

  • @rexfoxoloughlin6033
    @rexfoxoloughlin6033 Před rokem +91

    The reason you've heard of the Tube before is likely because it's the oldest metro system in the world - the first underground lines were actually built before the combustion engine was invented so before cars! Because of all of its history it has a certain charm that I haven't experienced in any other transit systems around Europe.

    • @digidol52
      @digidol52 Před rokem +13

      Just how old? Put it this way - construction started on the first line while Americans were fighting each other over the right to own slaves.

    • @brianparker663
      @brianparker663 Před rokem +13

      Yes, oldest section 1863.

    • @kathchandler4919
      @kathchandler4919 Před rokem

      @@digidol52 the first underground railway in the world was th Metropolitan line in London in 1863 ! After that, as London grew quickly they needed to dig down further & further so the tube is in layers as London is far bigger & busier than any city in the States (no worries of earthquakes, you get it? Manhattan= tiny , LA & San Francisco earthquake problems !

  • @martingibbs1179
    @martingibbs1179 Před rokem +53

    The cameras aren't just for security they are also there for crowd management. If they see too many people on the platform they will instruct barrier staff to close access to platform. For safety people will be able to leave the platform but not enter until there are fewer people waiting on platform.

    • @favesongslist
      @favesongslist Před rokem +2

      Yet recently China overtook the UK for having the most cameras per person in the World.

    • @eattherich9215
      @eattherich9215 Před rokem

      @@favesongslist: China is an active surveillance society, but the UK you can be captured numerous times a day on cctv.

  • @annemariefleming
    @annemariefleming Před rokem +49

    They close overnight to clean and to clear out dust, fluff and debris that could cause fires from the stations and tunnels. The circular sign with the bar across saying "underground" means that it's the tube, and most of them are connected to major overground and cross-country trains. Oyster is well worth it if you want to get around a lot.

    • @gailcrook2687
      @gailcrook2687 Před rokem +4

      I watched a programme about the poor cleaners who walked miles in the tunnels, they were called the Fluffers

    • @robtyman4281
      @robtyman4281 Před rokem +3

      @@gailcrook2687 ...a fair few of them have also said they've experienced 'paranormal' occurrences in the tunnels, and in stations (inc.platforms) over the years.

    • @miles_thomas
      @miles_thomas Před rokem +1

      Old system means lots of maintenance and there is only 4 hours per night plus the occasional weekend partial closures.
      New York can be 24 x 7 because many parts are 2 tracks in each direction in wide tunnels so they can close one track and work on the other. Only a few places in London where there are 2 tracks in parallel in each direction (usually run as different lines but some ability for trains to switch lines if needed)

    • @jaxcoss5790
      @jaxcoss5790 Před 4 měsíci

      The Underground now has night tube, so runs overnight on Friday and Saturday nights.

  • @malakai651
    @malakai651 Před rokem +74

    I live in the north of England and when we visit London we always use the underground it's absolutely brilliant. We park on the outskirts of London and once we get on it's so easy to get anywhere in the city. The place you thought was a shopping mall was a major railway station and the underground station is underneath so if you travel to London by train you can get straight on the underground.

    • @MichaelJohnson-vi6eh
      @MichaelJohnson-vi6eh Před rokem +3

      I live 1 1/2 hrs from Washington DC and I do the same thing. I park out in the suburbs and take the "metro" everywhere when I visit. Parking is expensive and traffic can be awful. It does not stay open very late so if you are doing the night life thing, you need to come and find a parking place and walk.

    • @johnp8131
      @johnp8131 Před rokem +2

      Sensible. Train and tube etc.... only, it takes 45 minutes to Kings Cross. I only live 60 miles north of London these days but I wouldn't dream of driving down and parking there anymore.

    • @malakai651
      @malakai651 Před rokem +3

      I found the easiest method was to drive from Yorkshire down the M1 to Stanmore there is a good car park, the station is the last station on the jubilee line and once on the tube I have access to anywhere in London.

    • @AGP335
      @AGP335 Před rokem +1

      @@malakai651 Parking on the outskirts is a pretty good method, but you might find it easier to drive to a station near you, like York or something, and take the train from there - it'll save you around 1-2 hours each way, considering speed, traffic, and having to get between Stanmore and the city centre

    • @malakai651
      @malakai651 Před rokem +1

      @@AGP335 I agree with you in principle, living only 30ml from York going by train is quick and easy but it's a matter of weighing up the pros and cons. The cost is the first problem, there is four of us. The down side is driving is long and hard plus the cost of that is getting expensive now. I must admit I would much prefer to do that.

  • @SirBradiator
    @SirBradiator Před rokem +29

    The Subway is not normally a series of tunnels to walk from one part of London to another, it's just generally a single underpass to cross under a busy road.

  • @england6013
    @england6013 Před rokem +42

    St Pancras underwent a massive refurbishment recently and its like a shopping centre now. It's got everything. Travelling in London is exhausting
    Subways only cover the distance between roads or bridges. You don't walk on them for miles. Just to get from one side of the road to another

  • @TheArmouredArmadillo
    @TheArmouredArmadillo Před rokem +67

    A subway goes under a street to avoid traffic, there isn't a system of underground walking tunnels. There are a few pedestrian tunnels under the River Thames however.
    The first buliding he's in is St Pancras International station. It's a main line station right next door to King's cross station. Between them there is a mega tube station that links the two, with access from inside both buildings. The second building is a modern addition to King's Cross station. It's a big shopping/eating concourse, with lots of space for passengers to wait for there train. St Pancras also has shops and cafes in.
    The tube system is huge, but the 270 stations he mentioned isn't all of it (Well it is, but also not). There is also the DLR which works exactly the same way, but is different trains etc, and then there is the Elizabeth Line which is brand new, works the same way, but is full size trains.
    Many of the tube trains are old, it depends on the line. There are new trains planned for the deep level lines to come in 2025 I think it was. DLR is due to get new trains next year.
    Bonus fact: More of the tube is above ground than under it.
    And another video asking for a community discord for us to help you plan your uk trip.

    • @wazzupp1029
      @wazzupp1029 Před rokem

      If I’m right, if the guy in the video turned left, he’d see a McDonald’s.

    • @favesongslist
      @favesongslist Před rokem

      There is a subway walkway from knightsbridge tube station and the Science Museum

    • @flashmcglash
      @flashmcglash Před rokem

      @@favesongslist I think you may be thinking of South Kensington Station rather than Knightsbridge.

    • @favesongslist
      @favesongslist Před rokem

      @@flashmcglash TY, I should have looked that up :)

    • @flashmcglash
      @flashmcglash Před rokem

      @@favesongslist That's OK. I've used that subway many times 🙂

  • @timberwolf5211
    @timberwolf5211 Před rokem +35

    Fun Fact: The London Underground train system was actually the first one.
    Underground etiquette to remember, when using the escalators, if your going to stop and ride them up, always stand on the right single file. This leaves the left side clear for passengers who want to walk up.
    In stations that have multiple colours going through them, this not only means there's various lines coming into that station, but it also often means that the platform you need might be at different level to another. Our Underground system is a multilevelled one, one station on top of another.

  • @SirBradiator
    @SirBradiator Před rokem +43

    Officially it's London Underground, but commonly called the tube. Most other cities in the UK that have this sort of transit it would be called the Metro. A subway in the UK is a pedestrian underpass

    • @lilyliz3071
      @lilyliz3071 Před rokem

      Glasgow calls it the subway, an underpass is a pedestrian walkway under a road or bridge

    • @simonwinter8839
      @simonwinter8839 Před rokem +1

      Don't be ridiculous old man,it's called the toob!!

  • @cr10001
    @cr10001 Před 2 měsíci +2

    Where is he at 7:30? It's inside St Pancras Station, where the Eurostar from Paris arrives. Built 1868 by the Midland Railway, with the largest single-span roof in the world (at the time). By the 1960's it was near derelict and there were plans to demolish it, but there was strong opposition, supported by John Betjeman, the Poet Laureate, and it was reprieved and is now a Grade 1 listed building. The Eurostar terminal was constructed in the platform space. There's a statue of Betjeman inside gazing up at the roof.
    At 9:20 he's outside the street entrance to Kings Cross St Pancras Underground station. Kings Cross and St Pancras are two separate (but adjacent) main line stations. Kings Cross St Pancras Underground station serves them both. Kings Cross St Pancras is on the Northern, Piccadilly, Hammersmith & City, Central, Metropolitan and Victoria Lines (!)
    There is not really a pedestrian 'subway' system in London. There are localised subsurface pedestrian tunnels such as from South Kensington Underground Station (which is actually in a cutting on the surface) up to the Science and Natural History Museums, and some central London stations have quite long underground access tunnels to their ticket halls so you could go down one entrance and pop up some distance away.

  • @Shoomer1988
    @Shoomer1988 Před rokem +30

    The tube map is an iconic piece of design work - you can even buy posters. But the odd thing about it is that in no way accurately represents the real locations/distances/directions etc. If you tried to use it walk above ground you would get hopelessly lost.

    • @bobblehat6603
      @bobblehat6603 Před rokem +4

      The first diagrammatic map of London's rapid transit network was designed by Harry Beck in 1931. He was a London Underground employee who realised that because the railway ran mostly underground, the physical locations of the stations were largely irrelevant to the traveller wanting to know how to get from one station to another. That approach is similar to that of electrical circuit diagrams although they were not the inspiration for Beck's map.

    • @theotherside8258
      @theotherside8258 Před rokem

      My only gripe is that some colours on the map look similar and where maps have faded a little it's hard to tell some line colours apart. I expect most Londoners know instantly but if you're a stranger and need to identify the line by finding a station first you might have to look for a while.

    • @kityhawk2000
      @kityhawk2000 Před rokem +3

      The map doesn't need to be geographically accurate. It's designed to show you which trains go where and where you can change to other lines. Making the map geographically accurate would make it extremely jumbled and confusing to read unless it was to a massive scale.

    • @Shoomer1988
      @Shoomer1988 Před rokem +1

      @@kityhawk2000 Yes I know. But not everybody knows that.

  • @bbdj2779
    @bbdj2779 Před rokem +6

    Best bit of advice here is to avoid the underground during peak rush hour if you can. It does get packed, and one can never walk fast enough for some who tread on your heels (likely rushing for a train). Also, be aware of pick pockets, particularly when entering stations around the high tourist areas such as Oxford Street and Picadilly Circus. They are notorious around there. Keep your valuables safe.

  • @searleflesher6689
    @searleflesher6689 Před rokem +13

    The reason most of the tube closes is to allow maintenance to be done and also to allow the fluffers to clean the rails the building behind the guy is a railroad station called King's cross St Pancras station

    • @keithparker2206
      @keithparker2206 Před rokem +3

      The video started out with him standing outside Euston mainline station, he was standing outside Kings Cross mainline station when talking about planning trips, and standing in the trainshed of Kings Cross station when talking about the Oyster card. St Pancras mainline station is on the other side of the road to Kings Cross.

    • @martynnotman3467
      @martynnotman3467 Před rokem +2

      Ive always found it weird that Euston St Pancras and Kings Cross are virtually next to each other. I understand why (different builders for different train companies) but im amazed they survived unrationalised

    • @keithparker2206
      @keithparker2206 Před rokem +5

      @@martynnotman3467 Would be very hard to rationalise them. You leave the platform at Kings Cross and immediately enter Copenhagen Tunnel. The other end emerges too far away from the Midland line out of St. Pancras which is also considerably higher than the LNER lines out of Kings Cross. Euston is way too far from St Pancras and again on a different level to merge it.

  • @catherinehaywood7092
    @catherinehaywood7092 Před rokem +34

    Subways in the U.K. are underground pedestrian passageways to cross a road safely

    • @djtwo2
      @djtwo2 Před rokem +3

      Yes but, specifically, there are very few of these "subways" that are longer than say 30 yards. So, no system of these subways. One moderately long example is at South Kensington tube station, taking you to the nearby museums.

  • @sevenwatson5854
    @sevenwatson5854 Před rokem +16

    Yes its a train station its King's cross/St Pancras Station...it has some shops and eateries most stations do....yes we are the most surveiled as prevention is better than cure. It's monitoring pedestrian and road traffic in case of issues as well as criminal watching...because what accident happens will impact all the other roads etc!!

    • @MrBulky992
      @MrBulky992 Před rokem +1

      King's Cross and St Pancras are two separate mainline stations across the road from one another but they share a tube station ('King' Cross St Pancras) beneath them.
      The station shown was St Pancras.

  • @christinebarnes9102
    @christinebarnes9102 Před rokem +10

    The Greenwich foot tunnel goes under the Thames, there are a number of foot tunnels, but they don't run along side the London underground , they mainly go under railway lines.

  • @shelleyphilcox4743
    @shelleyphilcox4743 Před rokem +14

    In the centre of London, sometimes it is quicker to walk by foot through the streets the distance between two or maybe even three tube stops, than to go by tube. The reason is that some of the tube stations are very large, and go very deep down and it can take minutes to walk through the station, find your correct line entrance, pay, go through the barriers, corridors and escalators and walk to the platform, wait for the train as some are more frequent than others, and then the other end it could also be a deep busy station and take a few minutes to get up to the street again. Sometimes it's just easier to walk the street instead!

    • @Sue474
      @Sue474 Před rokem

      Very true. Every visitor to London should have a street map as well as a tube map. Otherwise they'll spend about 40 mins going somewhere by tube when they could walk it in 5-10 minutes and the walk will be enjoyable. Lots of places in central London are far quicker to walk between and unless the weather's bad it's nicer.

    • @indrajitgupta3280
      @indrajitgupta3280 Před rokem

      To tell the truth, riding the Tube is a box to tick off for a tourist, and I've taken one or two rides more than really needed. Particularly in the British Museum-Tavistock Square kind of area.

    • @shelleyphilcox4743
      @shelleyphilcox4743 Před rokem

      @@indrajitgupta3280 I get that...I did the same in New York and other cities with underground services. I have to say, the London Tube map is by far the most helpful and it's a brilliant piece of design. That said, the addition of the DLR sections are not well done on the tube map at all and some of the interchange info is downright awful!

  • @gavinsmylie4763
    @gavinsmylie4763 Před rokem +12

    Fun fact during world war 2 and the blitz specifically, Londoners used the underground stations as air raid shelters. So many of the stations that existed during the 1940’s have that bit of history to them
    As well.

    • @skillspronto3401
      @skillspronto3401 Před rokem +1

      And the most common one people went too is the district line

    • @johnkemp8904
      @johnkemp8904 Před 4 měsíci

      And the late Jerry Springer was born in one!

    • @keith6400
      @keith6400 Před 16 dny

      During WW2 they also had US Army housed down there on bunk beds as well as Winston Churchill in his central London war room. The facilities were rekindled later to house the people who came from the Caribbean to start work on London Transport until they could get more permanent housing sorted.

  • @Isleofskye
    @Isleofskye Před rokem +24

    As a 68-year-old Londoner,I have to say The Underground has been brilliant and exemplified by that still in the video you saw saying "Ealing 1 Minute, Ruislip 4 minutes and West Ruislip 5 minutes" so 3 trains in 5 minutes. It is not always that frequent but after over 60 years of travelling I am struggling to remember ever waiting more than 10 minutes.
    You can use the 270 stations to see London but you will NEVER see all of it in one lifetime. I have tried and it is impossible.
    If you come, please,Enjoy London,like I have all my life and now I have lived right on the edge for 39 years,I get to enjoy our beautiful countryside,as well:)

    • @BlameThande
      @BlameThande Před rokem +2

      Yes the Tube trains being so frequent is definitely the best thing about it. Very jealous as a northerner when we only get a tram every 12 minutes! (But of course that's a much less comprehensive network).

    • @juliebone4929
      @juliebone4929 Před 9 měsíci

      Yes, I live on the edge. Can be in Central London in 50mins. If the trains are not on strike. Have access to beautiful countryside as well. I make good use of my over 60s pass. Get free travel all over London. So seeing more than ever before, you're never too old to have fun.

    • @Isleofskye
      @Isleofskye Před 9 měsíci

      @@juliebone4929 Yes, Julie. I am, literally,1/2 mile from an S E London code. 10 days ago a return boat trip from Greenwich/Westminster(Train/DLR/Boat) for 3 hours cost £10.20 so that Freedom Pass is vital. Easy to get out to our beautiful countryside and we have 76 Open spaces within a 7-mile radius, ranging from small to 185 Acres (I am 100 yards away) to 245 Acres just 3 miles away.. I did get taught a lesson, at the end of the match. yesterday though.
      The old me would have jumped from the seats into a gap to the tunnel leaving the stadium. I forgot I was 69 and did it and nearly went over and a Lady stopped me going over.
      My jumping shortcuts may be over like my old 10-minute run to the car after the game, to be one of the first away.
      I am very lucky healthwise but do, for the first time at 69, feel weary sometimes when thinking about,say, going back to London for the day to Kensington/Camden/Hampstead/Richmond Park etc. Take Care.

  • @AGMundy
    @AGMundy Před rokem +13

    Again as A Brit with an American husband I can image Brits wincing at the pronunciation of The Tube as the The Toob. We pronounce it as The Chewb. Sadly we do not have tunnels for walking to places. I did laugh at Steve saying he thought the Tube was perhaps popular..... For amusement take a look at the escalator at The Angel Tube station - the longest in Europe.
    As for the Sky Train in Bangkok, I used it when it was only just finished. It was expensive for locals.

    • @neilbowen6930
      @neilbowen6930 Před rokem

      There is a subway under the Thames at Greenwich. And it does keep you dry when crossing the Thames.

  • @carolineskipper6976
    @carolineskipper6976 Před rokem +15

    The huge station he films most of this at is St Pancras International. It has an underground station beneath it, but the light and airy vaulted ceilings, and fancy glass awnings are for the National and International train station. Overground trains from here go through the Midlands and to the North, or you can catch a train to France or Belgium direct from London.
    A lot of the Underground lines have been modernised over the last few decades- and a brand new line was opened earlier this year, named in honour of Queen Elizabeth.
    There are announcemets on the trains- but above the seats in each section is a map of just that line, so you can count your stops.
    We don't have an extensive 'walking subway'' He explained that if a Brit says 'subway' they simply mean a pedestrian underpass running under a busy road. He also talked about checking (on a map) how far your destination is on the surface , because it is often quicker to walk between centrl London locations than go down escalators, walk along the corridors to the platform, and then do the same at your destination station.
    I believe it is true that we are one of the most surveiled countries. There are security cameras, and cameras which keep an eye on road traffic.

    • @favesongslist
      @favesongslist Před rokem

      Chinese new cities are now the most surveyed, UK is now 2nd

    • @eattherich9215
      @eattherich9215 Před rokem

      I strugged to recognise St Pancras as I only ever exit from the tube and have never used national rail.

  • @ryanfrancis827
    @ryanfrancis827 Před rokem +5

    He’s at St Pancras, if you want to see a magnificent train station, check out Waterloo - it’s incredible. If you do one day come to London, please, please, please, go on the Underground, it’s an experience unlike any other!

  • @dave_h_8742
    @dave_h_8742 Před rokem +7

    Had a relative turn up on our door from Canada, he had travelled from London via the tube and then the rail network to Liverpool in the north west of England and then the local train network to our house with no problems he was enthusiastic about how easy it was for an old age pensioner to get about England and this was in the mid 1970's

  • @evakatz6351
    @evakatz6351 Před rokem +23

    They also need lots of CCTV on the tube for crowd management. They’re moving millions of people around every day, and in the rush hour you could have a dangerous situation very easily if they let people off a train/ in to a station that was already full.

    • @theotherside8258
      @theotherside8258 Před rokem +1

      All stations in the UK were quietly installed with cameras in the 70's in response to mainland threats by the IRA

    • @Szlater
      @Szlater Před rokem +1

      That’s a really astute observation that is easily forgotten when talking about CCTV. They will actually hold trains in tunnels, or in an emergency skip a stop, if the controllers see trouble on the CCTV.

  • @philosophical6393
    @philosophical6393 Před rokem +7

    The train you were looking at the end was a 1973 stock, 2nd oldest tube stock still running. There are far more modern stock operating, it depends on the line.

  • @hadesdogs4366
    @hadesdogs4366 Před rokem +4

    In the UK we prioritize public transportation over private transportation such as things like public bikes which you can hire, or the bus and even trains vs america which caters more towards the individual or private transportation.

  • @Codex7777
    @Codex7777 Před rokem +2

    When you were wondering where he was, it was an overground railway station. The major ones all contain underground stations too, as well as loads of bus stops.

  • @lindafordyce2122
    @lindafordyce2122 Před 6 měsíci +1

    In Glasgow, there is a small underground train system which is commonly called "The Subway". It was also affectionately known as "The Clockwork Orange" because the trains were all painted Orange.

  • @railvlogger1439
    @railvlogger1439 Před rokem +5

    You need to travel on The Elizabeth Line. A brand new line that opened this year. It will take you from Heathrow Airport into Central London

  • @sarahlouisebutler
    @sarahlouisebutler Před rokem +3

    One thing to add is that the Oyster card can also be used on buses and most overground trains in London so is well worth getting.
    Smaller stations are less grand and more underground, the larger stations he was at are also overground train stations.
    Slightly oddly more than half of the London Underground network is actually overground, although in central London it is pretty much entirely underground.

  • @morganjsmith1710
    @morganjsmith1710 Před rokem +1

    He’s at London St Pancras. It’s where you can catch the Eurostar & some domestic train services. It got gentrified to include a shopping centre in the station. The tube station can be accessed in the station, outside. You can also access King’s Cross train station next door. King’s Cross X St Pancras is the tube station with the most tube lines going through it.

  • @johnkemp8904
    @johnkemp8904 Před rokem +1

    From my position as a confessedly totally non-expert on the London Underground I think the best explanation of terminology is as follows. The original underground lines were “cut and cover“ and were trenches dug along the line of existing roads to avoid the expense of encroaching on the existing buildings and then the railway line was laid, and the road was reinstated above and the dimensions of the railway were certainly not ‘tube’-like. When electric traction came along it necessitated smaller rounder rolling stock and the tunnels were referred to as ‘tubes’, an advertising slogan of the time (about 120 years ago) making reference to ‘the two penny tube’. When the Underground’s first stretch of line was opened in 1863 there was no resemblance to a tube whatever, but ‘tube’ long ago entered general currency in the language. There are many public transport aficionados available and they are welcome to correct me!

  • @davidmyford8258
    @davidmyford8258 Před rokem +7

    Fun fact: When tube trains are retired from service, some are refurbished and shipped over to the Isle of Wight to serve as surface trains on the island's only non-heritage railway line.

    • @matsamuel5655
      @matsamuel5655 Před rokem +1

      A couple of years ago the Isle Of Wight trains were Underground stock dating from 1938!

  • @animalian01
    @animalian01 Před rokem +6

    The London Underground is the oldest underground system in the world. it's the very first one, which is why you may have heard of it. A subway in the UK is a pedestrian underpass. He is at Kings Cross Station, one of the national rail service stations in London

  • @steverpcb
    @steverpcb Před rokem +1

    The tube has to close for a few hours every night as it is the only time that work on the tracks can be done ,Included in the tube system is "The Overground", an above ground rail system in London.

  • @BellaSue70
    @BellaSue70 Před rokem +3

    It’s a railway station with the underground separate on the side. We call it the underground more than the tube.

  • @kazw2833
    @kazw2833 Před rokem +4

    The London Underground is really good & very useful...and not complicated!!!
    In general, if someone talked about "the subway" it's usually referring to a pedestrian tunnel underneath a busy road or junction.
    And Underground etiquette is that you stand on the right of the long escalators in single file, up & down.

  • @markthomas2577
    @markthomas2577 Před rokem +4

    We pronounce Tube as Choob !......... 😀

  • @Nemoticon
    @Nemoticon Před 9 měsíci +1

    The video Steve is watching is actually pretty informative and accurate, I'm impressed. Dude gives decent advice.

  • @charliecosta3971
    @charliecosta3971 Před rokem +2

    What you need to remember is that the London Transport System is the most advanced in the world.
    The NYC Subway is nowhere near the Size of the London Underground and needs a lot of attention.
    What you saw was the Underground Station, not a mall looool.
    All Visa and Mastercard are accepted. However, you don't need an oyster. Just use Apple Pay or Google Pay and tap in with your phone. It doesn't matter what part of the world you are from.
    Not only is there the Underground, there is the Overground tube Too, also the DLR which is a computerised train network.
    There are loads of other private companies, too, like South East Railway, etc.
    There ain't tunnels, just an underpass. However, he did mention the Underground closes at a certain time, but London Transport runs 24 hours, there's loads of different ways to travel through the night.
    My advice, Steve, is to stop listening to Americans trying to explain stuff about the UK loool. They are always misinformed.
    The Map Men are a great channel to react to and explain everything perfectly.
    We have trams, overhead carriages, bus ferries, and all sorts, too.
    Anyway.
    Hope you are well, and thank you for your efforts.

  • @RonSeymour1
    @RonSeymour1 Před rokem +4

    We do have a few long pedestrian underpasses running from stations. One connects the Museums on Exhibition Road and there is another, under the Thames in Greenwich. That"mall" was London Kings Cross, St Pancras station. It is a mainline and underground interchange and is enormous. Not a mall but it does have a lot of shops, and food outlets.

  • @X-101
    @X-101 Před rokem +3

    When he says about talking underground he means actually going down to the train platform as some station are quite far underground, some station have multiple entrances on different roads which also means you may have to walk quite a bit to get to the platform from one of the entrances. That was a large station he was at, most aren't that big but bigger ones have shops and stuff, the big ones tend to be where multiple lines meet also some of the big stations also have normal overground trains as well as underground trains

  • @RJE48
    @RJE48 Před rokem +1

    The train station he is at is Kings Cross St Pancreas International. The train behind him is the Eurostar, this is a high speed train that goes direct from London to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and other European Cities via the channel tunnel. This tunnel goes under the sea and emerges in France.
    This location has no relevance to the tube!

  • @vaudevillian7
    @vaudevillian7 Před rokem +2

    You’ll find often things look more modern in Europe because there’s more willingness to invest in infrastructure

  • @stephenlee5929
    @stephenlee5929 Před rokem +4

    Hi, One reason the London Underground is famous; and thus you may have heard of it, is it is the first underground railway in the world.

  • @xhogun8578
    @xhogun8578 Před rokem +3

    Fun information there was a Post Office Railway that has a network between sorting offices in London. It was operated from 1927 up until 2003. In 2007 a museum was opened within the former railway.
    It was a narrow gauge railway (2ft).

  • @ginajacobsma9497
    @ginajacobsma9497 Před rokem +1

    I was in London in Sept. There are people at the stations that will assist you. Yes, each station is announced. It's a great way to travel.

  • @alastairmatheson3245
    @alastairmatheson3245 Před rokem +1

    Subways are generally used for crossing underneath roadways rather than waiting for a crossing signal or, dodging traffic.

  • @wakingtheworld
    @wakingtheworld Před rokem +6

    Fascinating watching your reaction to something unfamiliar. Your questions re where this guy was, have been answered but he didn't say how hot it is down there. Very warm in winter and unbearable in summer. He also has had no experience of travelling in rush hour when thousands (and thousands) of Londoners get to/from work each day. It is PACKED and I mean packed. You don't need to hold onto anything cos you're jammed up against the bod next to you, his/her armpit in your face. Getting off is a nightmare cos you have to push through this solid block of people. Best to hover near the door but at some stations the exit is on the other side of the train! There are announcements about the next station and "Doors will open on the left/right hand side" which is helpful. "Mind the Gap" is the Tube's speciality BUT the gap can sometimes be huge! You will find it all a great adventure when you come over BUT we have ongoing rail & tube strikes atm which is causing chaos!

  • @GigiC4
    @GigiC4 Před rokem +4

    In Montreal, Québec, Canada we have what is called an Underground city. Many Metro station (subway stations) especially Downtown contain shopping centers with lots of shops, restaurants and big stores and even movie theaters, there are even tunnels so you can walk from one station to the other. You can spend the a whole day without having to step outside which is very practical in the winter months when it's cold.

    • @BlameThande
      @BlameThande Před rokem

      The underground cities in Montreal and Toronto are very impressive to me. The British Foreign Secretary Denis Healey visited Montreal for a conference in the 70s and compared it to a moonbase!

  • @paulbrealey3200
    @paulbrealey3200 Před rokem +1

    What the guy reviewing failed to mention is that the tube is on multiple levels beneath the ground. Some stations are served by multiple lines so a tube station could be 2,3 or 4 stations below eachother. Each main railway station has its tube station, the "shopping mall" referred to is St Pancras International mainline railway station. The guy is at platform level, with the plaza and exits below and the tube a long way below that. St Pancras International operates trains on the midland mainline north to Nottingham ( Robin Hood, Sherwood forest etc ) Derby and Sheffield, also runs high speed trains to Paris etc directly through the channel tunnel. There are lots of connecting tunnel walkways to get to the tube stations and some very very long escalators ( moving stairways ) to get down to the underground platforms.
    Where the guy mentions might be easier to walk he is meaning just walk outside between stations, there is not an underground walkway between locations. A subway in the uk is a route for walking usually underneath a major road ( like a bridge really)
    Hope this clears things up a little.

  • @shampoo-supernova
    @shampoo-supernova Před rokem +1

    A subway is a small tunnel/underpass under a main road. The tube ( pronounced choob ) is the underground train system ( well mostly underground).

  • @geoffpoole483
    @geoffpoole483 Před rokem +6

    A word on etiquette; when travelling by tube, NEVER try and engage in conversation with other passengers. Bear in mind that the tube map is not to scale. For example Moorgate station is a short walk from Liverpool Street station. The eastern part of London is where you'll find the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). There has been a lot of regeneration in the former dockland areas and it's an interesting way of getting to Greenwich.

    • @martynnotman3467
      @martynnotman3467 Před rokem +3

      Unless you are travelling on the Newcastle Metro in which case everyone will talk to you regardless of how hungover you are

    • @digidol52
      @digidol52 Před rokem +1

      @@martynnotman3467 A lot of tourists seem to miss Newcastle. It's a handsome city with the friendliest people in the UK, in my experience.

    • @JenMaxon
      @JenMaxon Před rokem +3

      @@martynnotman3467 Well, northerners are generally more friendly

    • @wtfnaj
      @wtfnaj Před rokem +2

      Lifelong Londoner here. Personally I love a chat with a stranger if the train isn't too loud. But please stand on the right on the escalators and don't stand in walkways. Basically, just be considerate of others who have appointments to keep. Thanks!

    • @favesongslist
      @favesongslist Před rokem

      Most people outside rush hours do not speak english and those that do wear earpieces bluetoothed to their phones.

  • @trevorlsheppard7906
    @trevorlsheppard7906 Před rokem +3

    Britain is top in surveillance cameras,or very near ,but I suspect that China may have a similar amount or more ,China doesn't really advertise how many there are ,the Chinese government is using face recognition cameras to track people movements , check who is attending protests ,where foreigners are visiting etc ,getting a little to like Big Brother .

  • @Windowswatcher
    @Windowswatcher Před rokem +1

    St Pancras railway station also has a connected tube station. Most railway stations in London have an associated tube station. Sometimes this is within the station itself…sometimes it’s just outside the station.

  • @tanyajones8982
    @tanyajones8982 Před rokem +1

    St. Pancras is overground linking the country, it links the tunnel and has an underground. It's a great station.

  • @danielw5850
    @danielw5850 Před rokem +3

    The Tube Map is laid-out like an electrical diagram for ease of use, it bears NO relation to the geography, I've stopped tourists, I have seen, using it to navigate the city (which is approximately 30 miles, East-West and the same, North-South; London is massive!)!

  • @chrissouthgate4554
    @chrissouthgate4554 Před rokem +4

    The trains have a map of their route on the walls above the seats. You can read of the stations until you reach your destination. If your destination is not on a trains map, then you may need to change trains, or you are on the wrong train.

    • @favesongslist
      @favesongslist Před rokem

      very useful point about possibly being on the wrong train or going to a station where you need to change onto another tube line towards your destination.
      Another thing is as the London Tube is so vast there is often many ways to get to your destination. Normally the shortest number of stops is the fastest, but avoid to many changes of lines.

  • @86501freightliner
    @86501freightliner Před rokem +2

    RE: About the cameras, not only are they used for security and surveillance, but on the lines that operates trains that are built during and after the 1990s, they project the CCTV image onto a screen in the driver's cabs so that they know that the doors aren't obstructed and that they know it's safe to close the doors and depart.
    Also, in the section where you said that the trains look more modern than the NYC subway, that particular type of train in the video is approaching 50 years old, being first built and introduced into service in 1973!

  • @lesliedellow1533
    @lesliedellow1533 Před rokem +1

    A subway is just a short tunnel which lets you get from one side of the road to the other. If there is a busy road junction, it might be a bit more complicated than that, and it might interface with an Underground station.

  • @vaudevillian7
    @vaudevillian7 Před rokem +9

    Worth remembering that the UK has vastly more passenger rail transport (above ground) than the US, that’s what these stations are (which attached Underground stations), not malls. Most of them are from the 19th-century originally

    • @eattherich9215
      @eattherich9215 Před rokem

      A lot of Americans only ever travel by personal transport and the train doesn't even go to their town.

  • @tracymcardle1236
    @tracymcardle1236 Před rokem +4

    No we don't walk underground, that is very funny🤣🤣

  • @stevenmurray436
    @stevenmurray436 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Having ridden both The Tube and the NY Subway, the Tube is by far the best system - it is cleaner, the stations are nicer, wayfinding around the stations and network is easier, and the trains are much nicer.

  • @lloydcollins6337
    @lloydcollins6337 Před rokem +1

    Subways in the UK just go underneath a road normally so you don't have to have traffic lights to cross them. We don't have a large system of interconnected tunnels for walking.

  • @jonathanpountney8071
    @jonathanpountney8071 Před rokem +4

    Hi Steve - the development of the London Underground is fascinating, from how they made the "tube" which the trains travel through, to the history of the Tube map (search Harry Beck) - our son did a project on this for a school assignment. The London Transport Museum is another interesting place to visit. This video explains how the London Tube map came to look as it does. czcams.com/video/cTLCfl01zuE/video.html

    • @lyndapotter8591
      @lyndapotter8591 Před 8 měsíci

      Great place to visit, and learn about how it all started.

  • @AndrewLumsden
    @AndrewLumsden Před rokem +5

    If you are genuine in exploring your UK roots, no-one in the UK ever begins a conversation with: "what's going on guys" 😡

  • @craiglist879
    @craiglist879 Před rokem +1

    He's in St. Pancras Station which is one of several main railway stations throughout London. The underground/tube lines are not the same as the railway but there will always be a tube station connected to the railway station. So, for example, if you were commuting from an outer suburb or maybe even intercity, you will arrive in London on the train, and then you may need to change onto the tube line to get closer to your final destination.

  • @CeleWolf
    @CeleWolf Před rokem +1

    A side note. We do not say Handicapped anymore here. We called it disabled/disability. You don't want to say handicapped over here.
    Yes he was standing in a tube station main area and he was outside the station entrance. There are shops and cafes etc in the big ones.
    We are indeed the nation with the most security cameras.
    When using escalators always stand on the right if you are not walking up and just riding.

  • @jonathanwetherell3609
    @jonathanwetherell3609 Před rokem +1

    It is easy to follow. There are maps at the station, Each train carriage has a route map you can follow.

  • @TerryD15
    @TerryD15 Před 8 měsíci +1

    You asked where he is in the video at the place with the arched roof. It is St Pancras internationl station which has a mainline railway and a an underground station below. Trains not only connect to UK main lines but also on high speed lines to Europe via hte channel tunnel.

  • @wirralnomad
    @wirralnomad Před rokem +1

    A subway is a tunnel under a major road rather than a bridge, usually at big old ugly complicated junctions (intersections) where a multiple of roads or lanes cross making it impossible to have a footbridge and so an underpass system is created instead.

  • @TrapMSR
    @TrapMSR Před 5 měsíci +1

    13:17 Its quite good that you think those trains are modern but that type of train you pointed out is the 1973 stock, which is the 2nd oldest train type on the whole of the tube network. Of course they have went through refurbishments over the years to cope with the aging of these trains, but they're going to be replaced all by 2025.
    5:01 The system closes at night for overall maintenance of the stations, track and trains and also for cleaning, that's why you may think it is cleaner due to that fact.
    7:21 That is St. Pancras station in London. It is served by international and National Rail services to places like Paris or Brussels outside the UK, or towns like Southend-on-Sea outside London.
    9:14 That is Kings Cross Station just across the road from St Pancras Station, and serves trains going up north into the UK. It is also served by that Underground station you pointed out there, which serves both St Pancras and Kings Cross just because they're so close to each other.

  • @JanoJ
    @JanoJ Před 9 měsíci +1

    The earlier building inside that you were asking is St Pancras Station, the train where you can catch mainline trains and international trains to Europe (It also has an underground too). The second which you took fromt he outside is Kings Cross.. the same Kings Cross from Harry Potter fame.

  • @gutinstinct4067
    @gutinstinct4067 Před rokem +1

    Trains stop at night so routine maintenance can take place , they turn the track electric off about 1am , and turn on is at 4am.

  • @AndrewG1989
    @AndrewG1989 Před rokem +2

    London Underground is for everyone not just Londoners but people who commute into London and travel around London. And is also a tourist attraction for people from all over the world.

  • @lloydcollins6337
    @lloydcollins6337 Před rokem +2

    7:30 the station he's at is a national rail station called St Pancras station - this is the one used by the Eurostar train system for high-speed train travel to Paris, Brussels, and other destinations in Europe.

  • @mrpdub2472
    @mrpdub2472 Před rokem +1

    That's a really old video, a few things have changed recently that have been massive improvements. We now have a 'night tube', walk through carriages, The Elizabeth line a cable car wifi and lots of disabled access.

  • @fcukwelshy
    @fcukwelshy Před rokem +2

    Not sure if it's been mentioned but the underground was used as an air raid shelter during the blitz in WW2

    • @robertclark2253
      @robertclark2253 Před rokem +1

      I mentioned a while back a lot of Tube stations were used as bomb shelters in WW2 . Not only that but the Tube is the oldest underground railroad in the world and new stations and lines are still being built . Nice to see someone else knows .

  • @nickmontague8936
    @nickmontague8936 Před rokem +1

    The Subway is an underpass that goes under roads. It's not like a pedestrian Tube going all the way underground

  • @Tyw7
    @Tyw7 Před rokem +1

    Some Elizabeth line stations are so long that they connect two tube stations. Like Farringdon's Elizabeth line station connects with Barbican. And I think he's saying some tube station is so close it's faster to walk.

  • @sugarandchaos
    @sugarandchaos Před rokem +1

    With regards to all the CCTV cameras they are all over the Tube, they are used to assist with spotting problems on the platforms like overcrowding issues/people being idiots. I believe that they were also testing a program that can help detect people who are exhibiting signs of distress/suicidal intent alerting staff that they require assistance. The cameras are also used to help British Transport Police (yep they have their own Police Officers) with crime detection.

  • @favesongslist
    @favesongslist Před rokem +1

    As a visitor to London I highly recommend you go on the Docklands Light Railway(DLR) that is part of the Tube but runs mainly above ground from the Tower of London; through the City of London to the the Royal Docks in East London and then travel over the Thames on the Emirates cable car to the O2, Then Get a fast boat back along the Thames, all using your Oyster card. A awesome way to view London and at a low cost.

  • @dave_h_8742
    @dave_h_8742 Před rokem +1

    You misunderstood subway as stated it's for crossing a rd. What he meant is that it might be faster to go to street level and walk rather than wait for a train.

  • @maxbanziger
    @maxbanziger Před rokem

    9:45 The majority of the network is actually overground. When the Tube lines were constructed there was no room in the centre of London at steet level, so they went underground. In the outer districts there was room and the tracks are out in the open - much cheaper to build, of course.

  • @markthomas2577
    @markthomas2577 Před rokem +1

    Subways usually just go under a street or road to get from one side to the other without having to stop traffic....... so they're usually only 20 or 30 yards long.

  • @DoomsdayR3sistance
    @DoomsdayR3sistance Před rokem +2

    Other have already answered it but the station he is at (for the Ticket section) is St. Pancras International, given it's name, it should be no surprise that it is connected to a train line that goes to another country, specifically it is one of the end points of the Eurostar which connects to France via the Eurotunnel. From St Pancras, the line has two ways it can go, either to Paris or to Brussels and Amsterdam, there are a couple of other stops on these lines but if you're in London and looking to go to any of those cities or vice versa, it can be better than flying.

  • @christinebarnes9102
    @christinebarnes9102 Před rokem +2

    King's Cross Station, it has both underground and overground trains.

  • @adlam97531
    @adlam97531 Před rokem +1

    The train featured later in that video is one of the older trains, in this case , built in 1973. However , newer trains are being introduced on all the lines.

    • @miles_thomas
      @miles_thomas Před rokem

      And 1973 stock will be replaced in a few years-Siemens has the contract and has shown mockups of new trains (which will be walk-though to create more capacity in the same length)

  • @deniseblake6214
    @deniseblake6214 Před rokem +1

    Each underground station is announced as the train approaches, as is information such as which popular tourist attractions are easily accessible from the particular station as well as which other lines you can change to. There are also lots of easily visible maps on the trains showing the stations en route and the destination of the train you are on.

  • @tonyeden2944
    @tonyeden2944 Před 6 měsíci

    Steve, a "subway" is what is termed "cut and cover". A trench is dug, track laid, then a "roof" laid to restore the street. The first London lines were constructed in that way and these lines exist today. Then very deep lines were added but not cut and cover. Instead these deep lines were tunnels - tubes - very deep down. So, the system is a mixture and so called the Underground. Referred to simply as "the Tube" or "the Underground".
    The pedestrian subways he mentions are just basically from one sideof a street to the other.
    He appears to be talking from St Pancras International Railway Station from where trains go to Europe through the channel tunnel and UK towns.

  • @lisastroud8396
    @lisastroud8396 Před rokem +1

    A subway is just an underground walk way. It is usually short and just goes under a busy road. The name of the station you were querying is Kings Cross, which is actually a regular railway station, although you can access the underground from railway stations too.

  • @marycarver1542
    @marycarver1542 Před 8 měsíci +2

    It seems to be an American presenting this and details about the Underground. It is simple , he is making it sound
    difficult !

  • @2xtremerko621
    @2xtremerko621 Před rokem +1

    I’m a Londoner and use the tube all the time while we have the night tube it’s sometimes quicker to get a night bus which runs all weeks not just weekend. I’m pretty lucky I live between 4 tube stations within two lines so I can get the northern or jubilee line to get home

  • @lyndarichardson4744
    @lyndarichardson4744 Před rokem +2

    There isn't a separate walking tunnel under ground. You walk between stations on ground level on the pavements.
    Subways are usually footpaths under one side of a main road to the other .
    There's an automatic spoken announcement telling you when you''ve arrived at each station.
    Hope you make it over here soon. Steve !

  • @john_smith1471
    @john_smith1471 Před rokem +1

    The Deep tunnels are smaller and tube shaped, the older sub surface lines have normal size trains, all referred to as the Underground.

  • @abigailjohnson4270
    @abigailjohnson4270 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Yes, London has SO many CCTV cameras. I’ve been behind the scenes and seen just how much u can see and how you can adjust the cameras - it’s a bit disturbing! He was at St Pancras - that’s a mainline overland train station which has a tube station under it. Some of the stations and tracks are overground - I grew up a 3 min walk from Neasden tube station - Jubilee Line - and that was overground until u get further into London central where it’s then all underground