The only cities in the world with more Tube stations than London
We often take the London Underground for granted, or even find ourselves resenting it. But deep down, we all appreciate having one of the world's largest transport systems at our disposal, even when we're uncomfortably close to fellow commuters during Monday morning rush hour.
Despite its impressive 272 stations and 402km (250 miles) of tracks, there are still six cities worldwide boasting a larger underground train network than the London Underground.
The world's most extensive metro system features an astounding 472 stations spread over 394km (244 miles), while the second largest accommodates 10 million passengers daily.
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Here are the six cities with bigger Underground systems than the Tube.
6. Madrid Metro, Spain
Madrid, the capital of Spain, has more metro train stations than London, but is slightly shorter in length. It boasts 302 stations, compared to London's 272, but it's only 293km (182 miles) long.
Madrid's Metro is also used much less frequently than London's - it recorded 600 million passengers in 2018, while the Tube sees more than a billion people annually.
5. Paris Metro, France
The Paris Metro, founded in 1900, is the fifth oldest subway system globally, came into existence four decades after the London Underground. With 302 stations, it matches Madrid's count but falls short in length, stretching only 225 kilometres (140 miles), nearly 100 miles less than the Tube.
The Paris Metro, with its 16 lines numbered rather than named, may lack the charm but arguably offers more efficiency.
4. Shanghai Metro, China
Shanghai Metro in China, located in the global finance hub, ranks as the world's fourth-largest and busiest metro system. It caters to a staggering 3.8 billion passengers annually, with a record day in 2019 witnessing 13 million riders.
The Shanghai Metro, with its impressive 381 stations and 743 km (461.7 miles) of track, outnumbers and outstretches the Tube significantly.
3. Beijing Subway
China also houses another one of the world's largest underground systems - the Beijing Subway. This expansive network, serving the sprawling Chinese capital, spans 727 km (452 miles) and includes 428 stations.
Despite being over a century younger than the Tube, having opened in 1971, and only having two lines until 2002, it now boasts 24 lines. However, it still struggles to accommodate the 3.85 billion passengers that use the subway each year, equating to a hefty 10.5 million daily.
2. New York Subway, USA
Next on the list is the New York City Subway, USA.
New York's iconic Subway holds the title for the world's most extensive metro system, with a staggering 472 stations - 470 of which are open 24/7 throughout the year. Since its inception in 1904, it has become one of the oldest subway systems globally, operating across 36 lines with 28 different services.
On an average weekday, around 5.6 million journeys are made, closely rivalling London's average of 5 million, with route tracks covering a vast 399km (248 miles) around the city.
1. Seoul Metro, South Korea
Seoul's Metro is bustling with activity as one of the busiest in the world, boasting 1.9 billion annual passengers - nearly double that of London - and holds the record for the largest number of stations worldwide. The underground train system in the South Korean capital, known as the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, was established in 1974 and comprises 22 lines with a whopping 728 stations.
It even extends far beyond urban Seoul, with regional lines reaching rural areas over 100km (62 miles) from the capital.
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