The first project of a modern sewer system for Milan was proposed to the City Council in 1868 by engineer Felice Poggi and those at Cesa Bianchi and Bignam. However this project would only cover Milan’s older ”downtown” district and excluded the outskirts past the canals and city wall. Construction was slow and arduous, taking almost ten years to build around 3700m of pipeline. The City Council pressured Poggi over the slow rate of development who stated that it would take years before a city wide network would be possible.

Oh Italy, to say i have fond memories of her would be a lie. When i last visited her shores the trip met with a very abrupt end involving metro security guards shouting lots of loud angry gibberish while brandishing guns, more police then you can count on your fingers and a night in the superintendents office down at the HQ watching crack dealers and hookers getting processed. On the plus side it did include a rather entertaining ride in a 3.2 litre squad car going sideways round wet corners and all for the reasonable price of 30 euros, bargain!

So our target for the afternoon was Middleton Mine, the only underground Limestone mine in the UK. Middleton is split over three levels and stretches for more than 22 miles under the hills. The mine closed in 2001 and it has been estimated that during its operational time roughly 16 million tonnes of limestone had been removed.

Champ de Mars, another of the phantom metro stations littering the network. Opened in 1913 the station shared a similar life as Saint Martin, short. Eventually due to the war and a lack of use the station closed its gates for the last time on September 2, 1939.

Oh Paris, once more you have rewarded this humble traveller with gifts and treasures far greater than i could have ever expected. Adventures, memories, quality food and the unstoppable burning desire to return. Sadly, as with all trips, they eventually have to come to a close. But before i bid my final farewell, returning to London from the station i had climbed not 24 hours ago. Paris had one last gift to give. A small kiss goodbye known as the Maillot Loop.

City Road Opened in 1901 on the Northern Line (City & South London Railway) but received little use from the start. On the 8th of August, 1922, when the lines between Euston and Moorgate were closed to facilitate the increase in the diameter of the tunnels up to 3.56m (Underground’s Standard Diameter), the underground review board deemed a platform extension at City Road to be financially un-viable, as such the station was scrapped and never reopened. Like many other underground stations it served as a air-raid shelter, although no evidence of this remains.