The Victoria line, which opened on September 1, 1968, runs from Brixton in South London to Walthamstow Central in East London. Notably, its stations feature a 'hump-backed' design, with tracks on a slight gradient as trains enter, aiding braking, and downhill on departure to assist acceleration.
A Pioneering Railway
It was the world's first fully automated railway when it opened, though a human driver remains on board for emergencies. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Victoria section of the route and even drove a train herself between Green Park and Oxford Circus. The line is named in honour of Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901.
Unique Station: Pimlico
Despite being one of the shortest routes on the network, the Victoria line handles around 200 million journeys each year across its 16 stations. Among these, Pimlico Underground Station stands out. Located on the southern end, between Vauxhall to the south and Victoria to the north, Pimlico is the only station on the line not connected to another Tube line or train station.
For contrast, both Vauxhall and Brixton connect to train stations, while King's Cross and St Pancras are served by the Northern, Piccadilly, Circle, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith and City lines, as well as a major train station.
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