More than 1 billion journeys are made on the Tube every year. REUTERS/Neil Hall The London Underground is the oldest subway system in the world. Opening in 1863, the network has grown to become one of the most iconic and advanced of its kind.

With just under 600 trains running on its 248 miles of track at its busiest hours, the man and machine power required to ensure a seamless operation is immense.

To get a glimpse into the day-to-day operations, Business Insider was given a rare opportunity to visit the London Underground Control Centre (LUCC) and saw for ourselves both the cutting-edge and archaic technology used to keep this vast system running.

The control centre is located in Central London, but for security reasons we were asked not to disclose the centre's exact location in the capital.