Waterloo & City line

The Waterloo & City line is a short shuttle on the London Underground, running without stops between Waterloo and Bank stations. It links the main-line station at Waterloo with the City of London’s financial district. The line is fully underground, running 2.37 km beneath the Thames and the City streets. It carries commuters from south-west London, Surrey and Hampshire each weekday. Since 2021 it has reopened only on weekdays after closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The line opened in 1898 as the second electric underground railway in London. It was built by the Waterloo and City Railway Company with support from the London and South Western Railway. For many years it remained part of the national railway network rather than the London Underground. After refurbishment in the early 1990s, operations transferred to London Underground in 1994. It is the shortest and least-used Tube line but ranks third by journeys per kilometre. Travellers find a quiet, efficient shuttle with turquoise-coloured map symbols. The two stations sit at opposite ends of the route, each with a single platform. The journey lasts just four minutes, making it one of the fastest rides in the network. The line’s deep tunnels pass under the Thames, reaching 63 feet underground at their deepest points. Despite its brevity, it remains a vital link for daily commuters heading into the City.