Transport in Britain
You can reach England either
by plane, by train, by car or by ship. The fastest way is by plane. London has
three international airports: Heathrow, the largest, connected to the city by
underground; Gatwick, south of London, with a frequent train service; Luton,
the smallest, used for charter flights.
If you go to England by train
or by car you have to cross the Channel. There is a frequent service of
steamers and ferryboats which connect the continent to the south-east of
England.
People in Britain drive on the
left and generally overtake on the right. The speed limit is 30 miles per hour
(50 km/h) in towns and cities and 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) on motorways.
When you are in London you can
choose from four different means of transport: bus, train, underground or taxi.
The typical bus in London is a red double-decker. The first London bus started
running between Paddington and the City in 1829. It carried 40 passengers and
cost a shilling for six kms.
The next to arrive were the
trains; now there are twelve railway stations in London. The world's first
underground line was opened between Baker St. and the City in 1863. Now there
are ten underground lines and 273 underground stations in use. The London
underground is also called the Tube, because of the circular shape of its deep
tunnels.
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