neither... nor – ни... ни

to affect – воздействовать на...

to cut – сокращать average – средний

to compete – конкурировать, соревноваться as far as... is concerned – что касается...

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London Underground

The city of London, England, grew rapidly in the 1800s. The streets of the city could not hold all traffic. A young South African named Henry Greathead had a very simple idea. Why not build tunnels below the streets? Then trains could carry people through them.

The first underground railway system in the world was in London. It opened in 1863 and ran 4 miles (6.5 kilometres) from the west of London to the City in the east. The first lines were built close to the surface and used steam trains. They then built deeper tunnels and the electric underground railway opened in 1890.

Henry Greathead talked about subways for 20 years but people who owned land in London said that they owned the streets as well as all the land under the streets. The landowners wanted to be paid for the use of this land. Then the Subway Act of 1884 was passed. This law declared that the streets and the land under them were public property. They belonged to everyone. At last, Henry Greathead could build his subway tunnels.

Henry made working Underground safer by using new ways to construct his tunnels. He also invented special tools for the job. Henry built two tubes, one on top of the other. Inside the tubes, electric engines pulled five-car trains. They could carry 160 passengers at 25 miles an hour. By 1890 the trains came at every three minutes. The subway was a great success.

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