Metro and subway generally refer to the same type of high-capacity, electrified urban rapid transit system, with the main difference being regional terminology rather than function. "Subway" is commonly used in the United States and sometimes the UK, while "metro" is more common in Europe and other parts of the world.
In some American cities, the subway is a railway system in which electric trains travel below the ground in tunnels. In other cities this is called the metro.
Is there a difference between a subway and a metro?
A metro and a subway are the same thing. Typically in the US it is referred to as a subway where as in Europe it is called a metro. They are exactly the same thing a commuter rail system in which the vehicles are powered typically by a live third rail (or sometimes overhead live lines).
The word "Metro" is usually synonymous with either "Urban" or "Subway", but since it's derived from the Greek word mḗtēr, the literal meaning was originally "Mother"? This was a shower thought I had recently. I knew the word was derived from the Greek metropolis, and that -polis means city.
The subway is an easy and safe way to get anywhere in New York City. The New York Subway runs 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year. With an OMNY subway pass or a credit card, a single ride costs $3 and is, therefore, one of the cheapest ways to explore the city.
So what I've learnt so far, may not be news to everyone, but subway is the American word and metro is the British. When talking about metro and subway you will come across other terms for the same thing like: the underground and the tube.
The London Underground, commonly known as the Tube, holds the distinction of being the world's oldest subway system. It began operations on January 10, 1863, with its inaugural route running between Paddington and Farringdon Street.
Record-breakers from top to bottom: The Shanghai Metro has the highest annual ridership in the world. The Beijing Subway is the largest system in the world by total track length.
A metropolitan area or metro is a region consisting of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories which share industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructure and housing.
The London Underground is often called the Tube because of the shape of the tunnels. The London Underground is one of the oldest metro systems in the world, opening in 1863. When the Central Line Railway opened in 1900, it was called the Twopenny Tube, referencing the price of a ticket.
The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or as the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent home counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in England. It is part of the network of transport services managed by Transport for London.
Rapid transit in the United Kingdom consists of four systems: the London Underground and the Docklands Light Railway in London; the Tyne and Wear Metro in Tyne and Wear; and the Glasgow Subway.
“Train” describes a transportation system that runs on tracks on the ground. “Subway” describes a train that runs underground. (In some countries it apparently refers to pedestrian ways undergound, but I'm from NY, so go with it.) “Metro” is the train system in a metropolitan area, ie, within a city.
China has the largest and most extensive metro network in the world. As of December 2024, China's urban rail transit system stretched over 11,000km, comprising more than 310 metro lines in at least 47 cities.
As of 2025, the New York metropolitan area is the world's principal fintech and financial centre and the largest metropolitan economy in the world, with a nominal gross metropolitan product of just under US$2.3 trillion. This is a list of cities in the world by nominal gross domestic product (GDP).
THE world's first metro, now the world's oldest system, is the London Underground in England, which is more commonly known as the Tube, which was opened in 1863.
Introduction. The Northern line serves some of the busiest commuter routes on the Underground, joining the suburbs of north and south London to the West End and the City. It has its origins in two early Tube railways – the City & South London Railway (C&SLR) and the Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead Railway (CCE&HR).
Understanding British slang is essential for navigating London without confusion. Key terms include "The Tube" for the underground train system and "quid" for pounds. A "do" refers to a social event, while a "pub" is a public house, often more casual than a bar.
The railways made it easier to get to London, but also contributed to the growing congestion on the streets. In 1860, work began on the first attempt to solve the problem: the world's first underground railway.
Fans who wish to show their love for Subway in a less permanent way can get an airbrush tattoo as well. The Subway Series was unveiled on July 5, and is available nationwide. The new sandwiches are ordered by name or number to let guests stand back and relax as Subway's Sandwich Artists take care of the rest.
