7th March: Opening of the Victoria Line

On this date in 1969 the Victoria line was officially opened as part of London's Underground railway.

1. Although the timetable had been in operation since September 1968, the official opening ceremony took place on 7 March 1969. It was opened by the Queen, who, as part of the ceremony, bought a 5d ticket (about 2p) and rode the train from Victoria to Green Park.
2. The line is 21km long (13,25 miles) and has 16 stations. It takes 32 minutes to travel from one end of the line to the other.
3. There are 43 trains in total. 37 of them will be running during the rush hour.
4. The stations on the line are hump-backed, which saves energy by helping the trains slow down as they approach the station, and to accelerate as they leave.
5. The line runs entirely below ground except for the line from the terminal at Seven Sisters to the train depot at Northumberland Park.
6. It could have been known as the Walvic Line (Walthamstow - Victoria) or the Viking Line (Victoria - King's Cross), but Victoria Line, after Victoria Station, was the name that was chosen.
7. Although there is a driver on every train, the trains run automatically and all the driver needs to do is close the doors and press "start!" Impulses are transmitted through the track for other functions. This makes the Victoria Line the first automated train system in the world.
8. Part of the line was suspended for several days in January 2014 when liquid concrete from improvement work at Victoria Station leaked into a control room.
9. The southernmost station, Brixton, is the ninth busiest station on the tube network.
10. Many of the stations have tiled artwork on the walls which is relevant to the individual station and the area around it. Brixton's is a pile of bricks, and is called "Ton of Bricks" as a pun on the station's name.