Here’s the headline you can drop at your next pub quiz: the Tube’s top speed is 62 miles per hour. That’s 100 km/h for our metric pals. Not exactly a Formula 1 car, but it’s no bumper car either.
But here’s the kicker: that blistering pace only happens on a few lines. Specifically, the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines, out in the far-flung suburbs. Once you hit the deep tunnels in Zone 1, the party slows way down.
Why? Tight curves, old tracks, and signals that are practically ancient. You can’t go full throttle when you’re cornering like a London taxi driver on a dare.
The Average: A More Honest Number
Let’s be real. You don’t care about top speed. You care about how long it takes to get from Oxford Circus to your flat. And that average speed? It’s a humble 21 mph.
Yes, you read that right. Twenty-one miles per hour. That’s a brisk jog for a professional athlete. It’s slower than a Boris Bike on a downhill slope. Embarrassing, right?
But think about it. Every stop adds a 30-second dwell time. Doors open. Doors close. Someone’s bag gets stuck. The driver apologises. That’s where your time goes. The train itself is a cheetah in a cage.
How DEEP is your commute? Incredible charts reveal exactly how far
