How London Gave the World the “Metro”: The Global Legacy of the Underground
When most people think of the London Underground, they picture the iconic red, white and blue roundel, the Mind the Gap announcements, and those never-ending escalators at Angel Station. But there’s one thing about the Tube that often goes unnoticed:
London didn’t just build the world’s first underground railway.
It also gave the world a word: metro.
That little four-letter term used in cities from Paris to Seoul to Delhi?
It all started right here in London.
London’s Underground: More Than Just a Transit System
Let’s start with the basics.
The London Underground is the oldest underground rail system in the world, opening in 1863 with the Metropolitan Railway.
It began with steam trains running beneath the city — a wild idea at the time.
Today, it carries millions of people every day and has grown into a cultural symbol as much as a transportation network.
The roundel, the map, the font (Johnston typeface!) — all of it has been copied, studied, and admired by architects, designers, and transport authorities around the world.
But its most lasting legacy might just be the language it inspired.
Where Did the Word “Metro” Come From?
The word metro is used globally today to describe urban train systems — especially underground ones. But it didn’t just appear out of nowhere.
It traces its roots back to London.
Here’s how it happened:
London's Metropolitan Railway was the first underground rail service.
It served the "metropolitan area" of the city, so the name made sense.
As the concept spread, "Metropolitan" became shorthand for urban rail.
Other cities copied the idea, adapting the name to suit local languages.
Notably:
Paris introduced the "Chemin de fer métropolitain", which eventually shortened to "Métro".
That French version became so iconic, it was adopted by countless other cities.
And so, the London-born “metropolitan railway” evolved into a global term.
So while you might think of “metro” as a French word — it was London’s idea first.
What Do Other Countries Call Their Metros?
The word "metro" might feel universal, but every country puts its own spin on what to call their underground or urban train system.
In the UK, we mostly call it the Underground or the Tube, especially in London — though funnily enough, the word “metro” isn’t commonly used here at all.
In France, the system is called the "Métro", short for Chemin de fer métropolitain, and Paris’s Métro is one of the most iconic in the world.
In the United States, you’ll hear the word "subway", particularly in cities like New York and Boston, while cities like Washington, D.C. do use “Metro.”
In Germany, the underground train system is known as the U-Bahn, which stands for Untergrundbahn, meaning “underground railway.”
In India, it’s widely called the Metro, as in Delhi Metro or Mumbai Metro, and the name is part of everyday speech.
China uses both “metro” in English signage and the local term 地铁 (dìtiě), meaning “ground iron.”
In Japan, systems are typically referred to as the subway in English, but locally you’ll hear the term 地下鉄 (chikatetsu), which also means “underground railway.”
Russia uses the word Metro, especially in major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg — and the Moscow Metro is famous for its grand, palace-like stations.
In Singapore, the system is called the MRT, short for Mass Rapid Transit, which is also the term used in places like Manila and Taipei.
Lastly, in South Korea, you’ll see both “Subway” and “Metro” used interchangeably in English, while the Korean term 지하철 (jihacheol) means “underground railway.”
So while the systems themselves vary in design and experience, they all trace their roots — at least in concept — back to London’s original Metropolitan Railway.
Fascinating, right?
Even if the names vary, the concept of fast, high-capacity, underground transit systems almost always ties back to the idea London pioneered.
London Underground’s Design Legacy
It’s not just about language or history — it’s about design too.
London Underground has shaped how metro systems look and feel around the world:
The roundel: Now mimicked in cities like Tokyo, Chicago, and Moscow.
The Tube map: Harry Beck’s 1931 design set the blueprint for transit maps globally.
Station architecture: From the Art Deco elegance of Arnos Grove to the brutalist drama of Westminster — London’s Tube inspired generations of metro architects.
Even font nerds get excited — the Johnston typeface designed for the Underground in 1916 still defines London’s visual identity.
Without the Underground, London Wouldn’t Be London
It’s not just about transport. It’s about city-building.
Without the Tube, London would never have grown into a global capital.
The Underground shaped neighbourhoods, enabled commutes, spread housing outward, and connected communities long before the motorway or the smartphone.
It helped make London a city of villages — all loosely connected by red, yellow, green and blue lines beneath our feet.
And its cultural impact?
Massive.
Referenced in music, books, films (James Bond always seems to find a secret entrance in a Tube station)
Has its own emoji
Inspires fashion, memes, merch, and even tattoos
The Underground is more than a way to get from A to B.
It’s a symbol of the city itself.
Fun Facts to Drop in Conversation
The term “metro” owes its life to the Metropolitan Railway — London's OG underground.
Paris made it stylish, but London started it.
The word “subway” actually used to mean an underground pedestrian walkway in the UK (still does, sometimes).
The Tube map isn’t geographically accurate — and that’s by design.
The world’s deepest metro station? Not in London — it’s Arsenalna in Kyiv, over 100 meters deep!
Final Thoughts: London’s Legacy Beneath Our Feet
So next time you're waiting on the Central line or standing awkwardly in someone’s armpit on the Jubilee, remember this:
You’re not just riding a train.
You’re moving through the blueprint for every modern city’s metro dream.
The next time someone asks where the word “metro” came from, you’ll know the truth.
It started with a steam train under Paddington.
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