The Guardian’s ‘On This Day’ feature for June 24 (click here to view) contained a report on the opening of the Charing Cross – Hampstead tube, now part of the Northern Line.

Sir Edgar Speyer (Chairman of the Underground Electric Railways Company) is quoted as saying

“…it was a matter of regret that the problem of regulating the traffic of London had not yet been taken in hand. During the last few years nearly all London transportation companies had been carrying millions of people at a loss. He was glad that a beginning had been made to agree upon a moderate increase of fares.”

Clearly, ’twas ever thus…!