The 1960s in London was defined by art, music, fashion and protest. The “Swinging Sixties” was an era of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Twiggy and political activism.
During this decade London changed from being a gloomy, grimy post-war capital into a bright, shining epicentre of style.
On the London Underground the ‘60s saw the opening of the Victoria line and the end of steam and electric locomotive haulage of London Transport passenger trains.
The Victoria line’s origins can be traced back to 1943 but the shortages of the post-war years caused delays.
It opened in 1968 between Walthamstow Central and Highbury & Islington, and on to Warren Street a few months later. The line was completed to Victoria in 1969 and it was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in March that year.
The line was the first automatic passenger railway in the world, fully equipped with an Automatic Train Operation system (ATO)
Today the Tube handles up to five million passenger journeys a day. At peak times, there are more than 543 trains whizzing around the capital.
The network has expanded to 12 lines and serves 272 stations, making it one of the busiest metro systems in the world.
We’ve taken a look down memory lane on the London Underground in the 1960s.
1. December 20 1968: Glamour on the London Underground
Swedish-German model model Uschi Bernell wearing a short coat on an underground train, London, UK, 20th December 1968.
2. March 7 1969: Queen Elizabeth II opens the Victoria line
Built at the end of the 1960s, the main aim of the Victoria line was to connect four, main line terminals: Euston, St. Pancras, King's Cross and Victoria, although its origins go back to 1943.
3. November 1960: Reading on the London Underground
On the London Underground a commuter reads a copy of D H Lawrence's 'Lady Chatterley's Lover', unaware of the fellow passengers surreptitiously reading over his shoulder.
4. September 4 1964: The train guard from Southall who fought to wear his turban at work
London Transport railway guard Amar Singh after being granted permission by his employers to wear a turban instead of the uniform peaked cap at work. As a Sikh, Singh had asked his employers for this exception to the uniform rule, as the turban or dastar is an important aspect of his faith. He was a guard on the Piccadilly Line.