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Greater London is home to some 8 million people and apart from the London Underground,
a dense network of commuter railways (former Network SouthEast) is operated
by several private companies like Connex, Thameslink or First, especially in
the south of the city.
Most of today's underground lines were built in the first half of the 20th
century in deep level tube tunnels within the central area of London and extended
above ground through the suburbs. The Victoria Line was the last important
addition to the network (opened 1968-71).
After the expanding of the underground network almost came to a stop in the
seventies, a light rail system was built for the new housing developments in
the former docklands (Docklands Light Railway) which was expanded underground
under the Thames to Greenwich and Lewisham (opened 20 Nov 1999 except Cutty
Sark station).
In South London, around Croydon, a modern tram network was built which runs
on street level in downtown Croydon and on old BR rail alignments on outer
routes. The system opened for traffic in summer 2000.
In 1993 construction work for the south-east extension of the Jubilee Line
began. The above ground section between Stratford and North Greenwich opened
May 14, 1999 with a limited service Monday - Friday. The second section from
North Greenwich to Bermondsey has been operating since Sept. 17, 1999. On 24
Sept. 1999 trains ran to Waterloo for the first time without stopping at the
intermediate stations. On 7 Oct. 1999 also London Bridge station was put into
service. The missing section between Waterloo and Green Park was put into service
without celebrations on 20 November 1999 (plus Southwark station) although
Westminster Station opened later, on 22 Dec. 1999. Former Jubilee Line terminus
at Charing Cross was closed on 20 Nov. 1999.
More informations: www.londontransport.co.uk
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