Biggest Metro Networks In The World

List of the top ten largest metro networks in the world: The top ten largest metro networks in the world are Shanghai Metro (China), Beijing Subway (China), London Underground (United Kingdom), Guangzhou Metro (China), New York City Subway (United States), Delhi Metro (India), Moscow Metro (Russia), Wuhan Metro (China), Seoul Metro (South Korea), and Madrid Metro (Spain).

Metro systems, often known as subways or underground trains, are high-capacity urban rail networks that improve urban transportation efficiency and mobility. Shanghai Metro (China) is the world’s largest metro system, with 16 underground lines totaling 705 kilometers. It also has the most annual ridership, totaling 2.83 billion trips.

About the Metro Networks In The World

Approximately 200 cities in 62 countries have a metro system. China will have the world’s most metro networks in operation by 2024, with 46. The U.S. has 32 metro networks, while India has 16. Metro systems, also known as subways, undergrounds, tubes, U-Bahn, MRT, or MTR, are high-capacity urban train systems that operate through subterranean tunnels. They are largely electric, operate on predetermined routes, and transport millions of people each day. They are widely regarded as the foundation of urban transportation systems.

The London Underground is the world’s oldest metro system, having begun in 1863. The Beijing Subway is the world’s longest metro network, spanning 815.2 kilometers. The Shanghai Metro is the world’s busiest metro system, with 2.83 billion yearly rides.

Largest Metro Network in the World : Shanghai Metro – China

Shanghai Metro is the world’s longest metro network, spanning 831 kilometers and comprising 508 stations across 20 lines. It is also the world’s busiest metro system, trailing only the Beijing Subway with about 3.7 billion riders each year. It is Shanghai’s rapid transit system, serving 14 of the city’s 16 municipal districts with both urban and suburban services.

• The metro system was launched in the year 1993.
• It’s the third-oldest rapid transit system in mainland China, after the Beijing Subway and the Tianjin Metro.
• The Shanghai Metro operates almost 24 hours a day, from 3 AM to 11:30 PM.
• The maximum driving speed is 80 km/h (50 mph) on most lines, with the exception of lines 11 and 17, which have a
• maximum operating speed of 100 km/h (62 mph). Route 16 has a maximum operating speed of 120 km/h (75 miles).
• The Shanghai Metro is still expanding and the Phase IV track, which is expected to open in 2024, will extend the network line to approximately 453 kilometers.

Second Largest Metro Network in the World : Beijing Subway – China

Beijing Subway is a rapid transportation system in Beijing, China. The system features 27 lines, including 22 rapid transit lines, two airport rail links, one maglev line, two light rail lines, and 490 stops. The lines are numbered 1–19, with additional lines denoted by letters. On subway maps and placards, each line is labeled with a particular color.

• The Beijing Subway was the first subway in China, opened in 1971.
• It is the oldest metro system in mainland China and on the mainland of East Asia.
• It is the second longest subway in the world, after the Shanghai subway, and is larger than the subways of London, Moscow, and New York.
• It serves 10 million daily riders and rank first in annual ridership at over 3.8 billion.
• The Beijing subway is excellent and the quickest and cheapest way to get around the city.

Third Largest Metro Network in the World : London Underground – United Kingdom

The London Underground, usually known as the Tube, is a fast transit system that serves Greater London and several of its surrounding counties. It is one of the world’s oldest metro systems, having opened in 1863. The Tube has 11 lines that span 402 kilometers and serve 272 stops.

• It handles up to five million passenger journeys a day, with more than 543 trains at peak times.
• It is the world’s first underground passenger railway.
• It is 45% underground and serves 5 million daily and over 1 billion riders annually.
• London Underground is part of the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.
• The London Underground comprises 11 lines, each identified by a specific color. The system is divided into nine fare zones, and the fare depends on the number of zones travelled through.

Fourth Largest Metro Network in the World : Guangzhou Metro – China

Guangzhou Metro is a fast transit system in Guangzhou, China’s Guangdong province.It first opened in 1998 and is now the world’s third busiest metro system. Guangzhou Metro has sixteen lines in operation. It is the fourth-largest metro network in the world. Guangzhou Metro has 302 stations and 621.05 kilometres of lines.

• The state-owned Guangzhou Metro Corporation operates the system.
• It’s the fastest metro line in the world and China’s first all-underground urban express line. Line 18 of the
• Guangzhou Metro has a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour (99 miles per hour).
• Guangfo Line connects Guangzhou and Foshan and is the first metro line between two cities in the country.
• Daily service hours start at 6:00 am and end at midnight and has daily ridership of around 8 million.

Fifth Largest Metro Network in the World : New York City Subway – United States

The New York City Subway is 399 kilometers long, making it the world’s fifth-largest metro system. It is also one of the world’s largest rapid transit systems, with 472 stations and 394 kilometers of routes across 1112 kilometers of railway track. It is one of North America’s largest and busiest subway systems.

• The New York City Subway opened on October 27, 1904.
• It’s owned by the New York City government, which leases it to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
• The subway runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
• The subway system uses a flat-rate fare system, where passengers pay a single fare regardless of the distance travelled.
• It serves 1.6 million annual riders and is the ninth busiest system in the world.

Sixth Largest Metro Network in the World : Delhi Metro – India

The Delhi Metro is a mass rapid transit system (MRTS) that serves Delhi and its satellite cities. It has 10 color-coded lines, 256 stations, and a total length of 350.42 kilometers. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) operates the Delhi Metro. The Delhi Metro consists of multiple lines, each designated by a specific color.

• The Delhi Metro started operations in 2002 with the opening of its first line.
• Delhi Metro is India’s largest and busiest metro and the second oldest after the Kolkata Metro.
• The Delhi Metro operates approximately from 5:00 a.m. to 23:30 p.m.
• It earned an UN recogintion for reducing carbon emission.
• The Delhi Metro uses a distance-based fare system, where the fare depends on the distance traveled.

Seventh Largest Metro Network in the World : Moscow Metro – Russia

The Moscow Metro is a state-owned metro system that spans 449 kilometers and includes 263 stops. The Moscow Metro was initially called the L. M. Kaganovich Metropolitan System, but it was renamed after Lenin in 1957. The metro system consists of 14 radial lines that connect the city center to the periphery, as well as the Number 5 (Koltseveya) line, which circles the city.

• It opened in 1935 as the Soviet Union’s first underground railway system.
• The lines are organized in a spoke-hub distribution paradigm, with most running radially from the center of Moscow to the outlying areas.
• The system also includes a monorail and two circle lines that connect suburban stations at different distances from the center.
• In 2024, the Big Circle line was completed, making it the longest subway ring in the world.

Eighth Largest Metro Network in the World : Wuhan Metro – China

The Wuhan Metro is a rapid transit system in Wuhan, Hubei, China. It comprises twelve lines, 300 stations, and a route length of 486.3 kilometers. Wuhan Metro Group Corporation Limited owns and operates the system. It is the world’s eighth largest system, launched in 2004. The Wuhan Metro is made up of many lines, each with its own color, that serve different regions of Wuhan.

• It is the sixth-busiest rapid transit system in mainland China.
• It operates underground and as an elevated express service.
• The Wuhan Metro typically uses a distance-based fare system, where the fare is calculated based on the distance traveled.
• The metro uses modern technology, including automated trains and advanced safety features.
• It is the first underground rail line crossing the Yangtze River. The system has since undergone rapid expansion.

Ninth Largest Metro Network in the World : Seoul Metro – South Korea

The Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit, or Seoul Metro, is one of the world’s largest urban train networks, serving the capital city of Seoul as well as the provinces of Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Northern Chungnam. The Seoul Subway is the world’s best metro system, having begun operations on August 15, 1974.

• The Seoul Metro has nine lines that extend 327 kilometers (including 290 kilometers underground).
• It is owned by Seoul Metropolitan Government and has nine lines, 302 stations.
• It serves millions of passengers every day and is as long as the New York and London subway systems.
• The Seoul subway system has a distance-based fare system.
• The average number of passengers per day is 7.2 million and per year is 2.6 billion.
• The Seoul Metro has two types of public transportation cards: T-money and Cash-bee.

Tenth Largest Metro Network in the World : Madrid Metro – Spain

The Madrid Metro is a rapid transit system serving Madrid, Spain’s capital city. It is the world’s 10th largest rapid transit system, covering 293 kilometers. The Madrid Metro opened its first line in 1919 and has since grown to be one of Europe’s largest and busiest metro systems.

• Madrid’s metro system has 12 lines, 231 stations, and one branch line.
• The Madrid Metro consists of multiple lines, each designated by a number and a specific color.
• The Madrid Metro uses a zone-based fare system, where the fare depends on the number of zones traveled.
• The Madrid Metro utilizes modern technology, including automated trains and advanced safety features.

Conclusion 

To summarize, the examination of the world’s ten greatest metro networks demonstrates not only the astonishing scale of urban transportation systems, but also the vital role they play in supporting connectivity, economic growth, and sustainable development within bustling cities. From the enormous reach of Tokyo’s complicated subway system to the efficiency of Shanghai’s vast network, each metro reflects its city’s distinct problems and advances. As populations rise and urbanization accelerates, the need for efficient, dependable, and environmentally sensitive public transportation solutions becomes more obvious. These leading metro networks serve as templates for future urban planning efforts, underlining the importance of investing in transportation infrastructure to satisfy the changing needs of global megacities. Cities can work to create more accessible, habitable, and integrated urban environments for future generations by prioritizing the extension and enhancement of metro systems around the world.

Summary

The world’s major metro networks serve a critical role in urban transportation, connecting millions of people every day. The Shanghai Metro is the world’s largest metro system, with 508 stations and a length of 831 kilometers. It is the world’s busiest metro after the Beijing Subway, with about 3.7 billion riders each year.

The Beijing Subway is the world’s longest metro network, stretching 815.2 kilometers (507 miles). The New York City Subway has the most stations, at 472. The Tokyo subway system in Japan is the world’s busiest. It has covered 310 kilometers, with 290 stops and 13 lines. South Korea’s Seoul Subway topped the list of the world’s best subway systems.