Metro systems · 1890 to today
How the world's metro systems grew, 1890 to today
London opened the first electric underground in 1890. By 1936 there were 20, then none until 1950. Today there are 234, and 47 of them are in China.
What is said in this reel
Half of the world's metro systems opened since 2000. This is how it started. 1890. London. The first electric underground. 1892, Chicago. 1896, Budapest. 1900, Paris. 1902, Berlin. 1904, New York. 1935, Moscow. By 1936, 20. Then, until 1950, none. 1950, Stockholm. 1968, Rotterdam 1976, Washington. 1977, Amsterdam. 1982, Helsinki. Then it exploded. From 2010 to 2019, 61 new systems opened. Today, 234. 47 are in China.
Credits and sources
All 15 credits
- Data: Wikipedia, List of metro systems (CC BY-SA 4.0), revision 1381749709. 234 systems in 215 cities.
- Opened means the year the electrified metro system opened (London counts from 1890; its steam railway opened in 1863).
- Photos via Wikimedia Commons. London: Archives New Zealand (CC BY-SA 2.0), Victor Grigas (CC BY-SA 2.0), Dada1960 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Tom Page (CC BY-SA 2.0), Keith Page (CC BY-SA 4.0); British Transport Commission, Cassell and Andy Dingley (public domain)
- Chicago: David Wilson (CC BY 2.0), Chris Rycroft (CC BY 2.0), Pi.1415926535 (CC BY-SA 3.0), wltmauc (CC BY-SA 4.0); Stanley Kubrick, The Railway Age and Internet Archive Book Images (public domain)
- Budapest: Fortepan, donors UVATERV and Kristek Pál (CC BY-SA 3.0); Random photos 1989 (CC BY-SA 4.0); other images public domain
- Paris: Andrzej Otrębski (CC BY-SA 4.0), Cheng-en Cheng (CC BY-SA 2.0); Charles Maindron and Compagnie Parisienne du Métropolitain (CC0); Bain News Service (public domain)
- Berlin: Willy Pragher (CC BY 3.0), Gerd Danigel (CC BY-SA 4.0), Roehrensee (CC BY-SA 4.0), Arne Müseler (CC BY-SA 3.0 de), Jcornelius (CC BY-SA 2.0 de), Leonhard Lenz (CC0); Gordan & Delius (public domain)
- New York: LDMarcus (CC BY-SA 4.0), Tdorante10 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CC BY 2.0), MTAEnthusiast10 (CC BY 4.0); Rijksmuseum (CC0); Jack Boucher (public domain)
- Moscow: Главархив Москвы (CC BY 4.0), Thomas Taylor Hammond (CC BY-SA 4.0), Юрий Д.К. (CC BY 4.0), A.Savin (Free Art License); Леонид Великжанин (public domain)
- Stockholm: Lennart Welander, Frank Schulenburg, Arild Vågen and AleWi (CC BY-SA 4.0); Inez Bergman, Olle Seijbold and Jonas Bergsten (public domain)
- Rotterdam: Cor Koornneef and Smiley.toerist (CC BY-SA 4.0); Eric Koch, Jack de Nijs, Rob Bogaerts and W. Punt for Anefo (CC0)
- Washington: Ben Schumin (CC BY-SA 3.0), Ymblanter (CC BY-SA 4.0), Johnny Silvercloud (CC BY-SA 2.0), Tdorante10 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Yoichi Okamoto (public domain)
- Amsterdam: Hnapel (CC BY-SA 4.0); Rob Bogaerts, Bert Verhoeff and Koen Suyk for Anefo (CC0); other images public domain
- Helsinki: Jan Alanco, Unto Laitila, Sakari Kiuru and Yehia Eweis (CC BY 4.0); Safa Hovinen (CC BY 2.0); Ralf Roletschek (CC BY-SA 3.0 and CC BY-SA 1.0 fi); other images public domain
- Narration: AI-generated voice.
