Top-7 Oldest Metro Stations in the World, Know the Names

Metro stations are a vital part of modern city life, helping millions travel quickly and easily every day. But the story of the metro began more than 150 years ago, with the world’s first underground railways. These early stations were engineering marvels of their time and laid the foundation for today’s fast and connected transport systems. Let’s explore the top-7 oldest metro stations in the world.

Top-7 Oldest Metro Stations in the World

Metro systems are now a part of everyday life, helping millions of people travel quickly and affordably. But the story of the metro began more than 150 years ago. The earliest metro networks were built to solve traffic problems and connect cities more efficiently. They became engineering wonders of their time and inspired similar systems around the world.

Here are the names of top-7 oldest metro stations in the world:

• London Underground
• Budapest Metro
• Glasgow Circular Underground
• Chicago ‘L’
• Paris Metro
• Berlin U-Bahn-Germany
• New York City Subway

London Underground, United Kingdom

Opened in: 1863

The London Underground is the world’s first underground railway and the oldest metro station in the world, starting its service in 1863. It originally ran between Paddington and Farringdon using steam trains.

Today, it is the longest metro system in the world, covering 402 km with 270 stations. The famous stations like Paddington are still in operation, and the network remains an important part of daily London life.

Budapest Metro, Hungary

Opened in: 1896

The Budapest Metro is the oldest electrified underground railway in the world and the second oldest overall after London. Opened in 1896, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

It currently has four lines, with plans for a fifth line in the future. This system played a big role in shaping modern metro travel in Europe.

Glasgow Circular Underground, Scotland

Opened in: 1896

The Glasgow Underground—also called the Subway—is the third oldest metro system in the world. It started in 1896 and has a 10.5 km loop with 15 stations.

The route has never been expanded beyond its original loop design, making it unique among world metros. The historic St. Enoch Square station is still in use today.

Chicago ‘L’, United States

Opened in: 1892

Chicago’s ‘L’ (short for Elevated) started operations in 1892 as an electrified rail system. It now carries over 230 million passengers each year and is the second busiest metro in the US.

The network is 165 km long with eight lines, some running 24 hours a day, making it one of the few metro systems in the world with all-night service.

Paris Metro, France

Opened in: 1900

The Paris Metro opened in 1900 and introduced the word “metro” to the world. With 214 km of tracks and 302 stations, it is one of the densest metro networks globally.

In central Paris, stations are so close together that you can often see one entrance from another. The Paris Metro is famous for its artistic architecture and remains one of the busiest in the world.

Berlin U-Bahn, Germany

Opened in: 1902

In central Paris, stations are so close together that you can often see one entrance from another. The Paris Métro is famous for its artistic architecture and remains one of the busiest in the world.

It was originally built to reduce road traffic in Berlin and now serves as the city’s fastest way to travel.

New York City Subway, United States

Opened in: 1904

The New York City Subway opened in 1904 with a fare of just $0.05. Today, it is the largest metro system in the world by number of stations—over 420 in total.

It operates 24/7, making it one of the few subways worldwide to run all day and night. With 36 lines across 380 km, it is the heartbeat of New York City’s transport system.