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#25. Berlin U-Bahn - Germany
Year opened: 1902
System length: 94.3 route听miles
25 massive metro systems that run the world
The sprawling metro systems of the world enable听residents and travelers alike to reach the furthest corners of a city. From Chicago's famed elevated听"L" to Hong Kong's ultra-modern Massive Transit Railway, these transportation听networks blend convenience and comprehensiveness with the permanence and cost听of truly ambitious urban projects.听听
To help guide your next global adventure, we've identified the 25 largest metro systems in the world by听overall route length, using data published in news releases, government reports, and the metro-operating companies themselves. Our analysis focuses on heavy rail systems鈥攄edicated, mass-transit rail systems designed to move residents through听a city with speed鈥攁s opposed to light rails and commuter trains that typically serve the outer limits of a metro area.听
Together, these transportation听networks account for over four听billion miles of possible travel. For each metro system on our list, you'll find an image that encapsulates听the sprawling city serviced, as well as a handy route map for your travels.
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#25. Berlin U-Bahn - Germany
Year opened: 1902
System length: 94.3 route听miles
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#24. Tianjin Metro - China
Year opened: 1984
System length: 100.0 route听miles
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#24. Tianjin Metro - China
Year opened: 1984
System length: 100.0 route听miles
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#23. Chicago "L" - United States
Year opened: 1897
System length: 102.8 route听miles
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#23. Chicago "L" - United States
Year opened: 1897
System length: 102.8 route听miles
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#22. San Francisco BART - United States
Year opened: 1972
System length: 112.0 route听miles
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#22. San Francisco BART - United States
Year opened: 1972
System length: 112.0 route听miles
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#21. Hong Kong MTR - China
Year opened: 1999
System length: 123.0 route miles
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#21. Hong Kong MTR - China
Year opened: 1999
System length: 123.0 route听miles
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#20. Washington Metro - United States
Year opened: 1979
System length: 116.4 route听miles
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#20. Washington Metro - United States
Year opened: 1979
System length: 116.4 route听miles
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#19. Chengdu Metro - China
Year opened: 1976
System length: 118.0 route听miles
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#19. Chengdu Metro - China
Year opened: 1976
System length: 118.0 route听miles
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#18. Tokyo Metro - Japan
Year opened: 2010
System length: 121.0 route听miles
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#18. Tokyo Metro - Japan
Year opened: 1927
System length: 121.2 route听miles
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#17. Tehran Metro - Iran
Year opened: 1927
System length: 121.2 route听miles
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#17. Tehran Metro - Iran
Year opened: 2010
System length: 121.0 route听miles
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#16. Singapore Mass Rapid Transit - Singapore
Year opened: 1987
System length: 124.0 route听miles
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#16. Singapore Mass Rapid Transit - Singapore
Year opened: 1987
System length: 124.0 route听miles
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#15. Paris M茅tro - France
Year opened: 1900
System length: 133.0 route听miles
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#15. Paris M茅tro - France
Year opened: 1900
System length: 133.0 route听miles
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#14. Mexico City Metro - Mexico
Year opened: 1969
System length: 140.7 route听miles
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#14. Mexico City Metro - Mexico
Year opened: 1969
System length: 140.7 route听miles
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#13. Wuhan Metro - China
Year opened: 2004
System length: 147.0 route听miles
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#13. Wuhan Metro - China
Year opened: 2004
System length: 147.0 route听miles
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#12. Delhi Metro - India
Year opened: 2002
System length: 156.6 route听miles
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#12. Delhi Metro - India
Year opened: 2002
System length: 156.6 route听miles
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#11. Chongqing Rail Transit - China
Year opened: 2005
System length: 164.0 route听miles
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#11. Chongqing Rail Transit - China
Year opened: 2005
System length: 164.0 route听miles
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#10. Shenzhen Metro - China
Year opened: 2004
System length: 176.5 route听miles
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#10. Shenzhen Metro - China
Year opened: 2004
System length: 176.5 route听miles
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#9. Madrid Metro - Spain
Year opened: 1919
System length: 182.7 route听miles
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#9. Madrid Metro - Spain
Year opened: 1919
System length: 182.7 route听miles
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#8. Seoul Metropolitan Subway - South Korea
Year opened: 1974
System length: 189.2 route听miles
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#8. Seoul Metropolitan Subway - South Korea
Year opened: 1974
System length: 189.2 route听miles
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#7. Nanjing Metro - China
Year opened: 2005
System length: 216.0 route听miles
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#7. Nanjing Metro - China
Year opened: 2005
System length: 216.0 route miles
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#6. Moscow Metro - Russia
Year opened: 1935
System length: 223.4 route听miles
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#6. Moscow Metro - Russia
Year opened: 1935
System length: 223.4 route miles
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#5. Guangzhou Metro - China
Year opened: 1997
System length: 242.7 route听miles
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#5. Guangzhou Metro - China
Year opened: 1997
System length: 242.7 route听miles
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#4. New York City Subway - United States
Year opened: 1904
System length: 246.0 route听miles
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#4. New York City Subway - United States
Year opened: 1904
System length: 246.0 route听miles
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#3. London Underground - United Kingdom
Year opened: 1890
System length: 253.0 route听miles
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#3. London Underground - United Kingdom
Year opened: 1890
System length: 253.0 route听miles
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#2. Beijing Subway - China
Year opened: 1971
System length: 372.4 route听miles
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#2. Beijing Subway - China
Year opened: 1971
System length: 372.4 route听miles
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#1. Shanghai Metro - China
Year opened: 1993
System length: 413.0 route听miles
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#1. Shanghai Metro - China
Year opened: 1993
System length: 413.0 route听miles
