The third oldest underground metro system in the world, after London and Budapest, the Glasgow Subway opened for the first time on 14 December 1896.
Currently operated by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), the railway was constructed over five years by the Glasgow District Subway Company, at a cost of £1.5 million.
However, a crash on the Subway’s opening day meant the 6.5 mile route did not reopen until January 1897.
An archive photo from the Glasgow Subway. (Image: Newsquest)
The railway was electrified in 1935 in a bid to save costs.
The SPT explains: “Glasgow saw a spectacular population growth throughout the 19th century as people came to the city for work, making it a priority to move people about the city as demand grew for a public transport system that was quick, good value and accessible to all.
“The Subway was originally built for the Glasgow District Subway Company and operated as a cable-hauled system. It was the first of its type in the world with propulsion provided by stationary steam engines.
“Now part of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), the Subway is currently undergoing a major £288 million modernisation programme. This will see new trains and a new signalling system in place, completely transforming the whole system.”
In modern times, the Subway continues to upgrade, with new trains being installed throughout 2024 as part of a £288m upgrade.
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At the time, the SPT said that the two longest-serving trains, installed in 1980, had completed an estimated 2.6million miles – or 400,600 loops around Glasgow.
The SPT has also begun to install platform screen doors across the system in recent months.
The new safety measures were recently rolled out at Govan Station.
The SPT said on Facebook: “You may have noticed that installation of the Platform Screen Doors has begun at Govan Station.
“This is the next stage in our modernisation programme ahead of further testing of the new signalling and comms system.”
