Today, underground railway systems exist in more than 40 countries worldwide. For instance, you can travel by metro in Paris, New York, and Tokyo. Modern underground systems use electric trains—they are clean, safe, and quiet. Trains arrive on time, and there are no traffic jams, making them a convenient mode of transport for most people. However, the first underground railway systems were quite different from today's bustling metros. The first underground trains appeared in London in 1863. At that time, the city was incredibly busy: streets were packed with people, horse-drawn carriages, houses, and buildings. Space on the surface was severely lacking, and people decided to build a railway underground. However, electric trains did not yet exist, and all trains operated on steam engines, where energy was generated using fire and water. Since all trains in 1863 were steam-powered, the tunnels filled with thick smoke, steam, and noise. Passengers sought a breath of fresh air, but ensuring good ventilation in underground tunnels and stations was challenging. The tunnels remained dark, and both carriages and stations were built of wood and lit by gas lamps. Sometimes, this led to fires and accidents. Before the London Underground opened, people were very scared about the idea of going into underground tunnels. Many were afraid of the tunnels full of the smoke, the steam, and the noise from the train engines. And indeed, traveling in the tunnels of the first underground system was a very noisy, dark, and smelly experience. But on the first day, the new London Underground carried 40,000 passengers. It was very quick, and the trains ran every 10 minutes. The people of London fell in love with their new train system.

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