Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich DLR station facts for kids
The Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich station is a cool stop on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in south-east London. It's like a special train system that helps people get around quickly. This station is named after the famous ship, the Cutty Sark, which is very close by. It's right in the middle of Greenwich Town Centre, making it easy to visit many exciting places.
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About Cutty Sark DLR Station
The Cutty Sark DLR station is part of London's modern transport network. It's a "light metro" system, which means it's a bit like a subway but often runs above ground. The DLR trains are special because they don't have drivers inside! They are controlled by computers. This station is on the Bank-Lewisham Line, connecting busy parts of London.
Where is it Located?
This station is found in Greenwich, a historic area in south-east London. It's super convenient for exploring the area. The station is underground, which means you go down escalators or lifts to reach the platforms. It's designed to be easy for everyone to use.
Why is it Called Cutty Sark?
The station gets its name from the famous sailing ship, the Cutty Sark. This ship is a real piece of history! It was one of the fastest tea clippers ever built. It used to race across the oceans, bringing tea from China to London. Today, the ship is a museum that you can visit right next to the station. The station's full name, "Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich," also points to the nearby Maritime Greenwich area. This area is a World Heritage Site because of its important history and buildings.
When Did the Station Open?
The Cutty Sark DLR station opened on 3 December 1999. It was built as part of an extension to the DLR line. This extension helped more people travel easily to Greenwich. Building the station was a big project, especially digging the tunnels under the River Thames.
How Was it Built?
Building the tunnels for the DLR line under the River Thames was a huge engineering challenge. Workers used a special machine called a tunnel boring machine (TBM). This giant machine digs through the ground and builds the tunnel walls at the same time. It's like a massive underground worm! The TBM helped create the safe tunnels that trains use today.
What Can You See Nearby?
The Cutty Sark DLR station is a gateway to many exciting places. Besides the Cutty Sark ship, you can visit the National Maritime Museum. This museum tells stories about Britain's history with the sea. The Old Royal Naval College is also close by. It has amazing buildings designed by famous architects. You can also walk through Greenwich Park and visit the Royal Observatory. This is where the Prime Meridian line is, marking the official start of time zones around the world!
Images for kids
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Southbound platform 1 looking south
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Train stopped at platform 1
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Part of the cutter head from the front of the TBM (tunnel boring machine) used to drive the twin tunnels under the river Thames from Island Gardens to Greenwich
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Signage on northbound platform
