nouns - What's the difference between 'subway', 'metro' and 'tube'?


When I watched the "American Album" program, Susan and Henry talked about New York, and she used the word 'subway'.


When I listened to BBC's '6 minutes English', I heard 'tube' used in the conversation.


And as I know, there is another word, 'metro', also used sometimes.


Could you please give me some more description about these words?



Answer



Each city’s metro system has a “common name” that developed historically.



  • London - “The Tube”, from the tube-shaped deep level bored tunnels

  • Paris - metro, full name “Métropolitain”

  • New York City - subway, because the main lines have significant underground sections

  • Chicago - “The L” - from el, because it is mostly elevated

  • Boston - “The T” - from MBTA, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

  • Washington, D.C. - metro

  • San Francisco - BART, Bay Area Rapid Transit


etc.


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