The only two underground lines in London that are completely underground

The iconic London Underground, with its distinctive multicolored lines, has been transporting Londoners around the city since 1863. Now with 11 lines and serving 272 stations, it is a symbol of the capital that is recognized around the world.

For trivia lovers and transport enthusiasts, the Tube is a treasure trove of fascinating facts. One such fact revolves around the name “underground” – how many of these trains actually run entirely underground?

Surprisingly, only two Tube lines are completely underground from start to finish. First up is the Light Blue Line, inaugurated by none other than Her Majesty The Queen in 1969 – yes, it’s the Victoria Line.

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This handy route ticks many boxes for city commuters, linking key London locations. Despite the grumbles during rush hour, it’s hard to deny the efficiency of a line that takes passengers from Walthamstow to Brixton in just 32 minutes.

In addition to its comfort, the Victoria line also boasts an intriguing history and some unique features. For example, it is the second shortest line on the network, with only 13.25 miles (21 km) of track, second only to the Waterloo and City line.

The Victoria line, with an impressive 36 trains per hour at peak times and just 100 seconds between each train, holds the title for the most frequent train service in the UK and the second most frequent globally.

In addition to its name, the Victoria line boasts some serious royal connections. Queen Elizabeth II was the first monarch ever to ride the Tube, inaugurating the Victoria Line in 1969 with a short trip from Green Park to Victoria.

The Waterloo and City line, the second tube line to run entirely underground, is also the shortest, with only two stations. This might sound a little cheeky, but it’s true – this particular subway line only has two stops.

With a route spanning a distance of 1.47 miles between Waterloo and Bank, it is easily the shortest line on the Tube network. It’s likely that many Londoners have never even set foot on this transport oddity, which sees around the same 15 million people use it annually as they shuttle between these two stations during the week.

There were plans to extend the Waterloo and City line to Liverpool Street station via Shoreditch, allowing trains to continue to New Cross and New Cross Gate. In the 1940s there was also talk of creating a diversion from Fenchurch Street station to Bank, passing through the Waterloo and City line tunnels to Waterloo and its suburban lines.

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