List of Docklands Light Railway stations facts for kids
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a special train system in east and south-east London. It's like a light metro, which means it's smaller than the main London Underground but still moves people quickly. The DLR trains run automatically, so there isn't a driver on board!
It first opened on 31 August 1987. The DLR was a big part of changing old, unused industrial areas into busy places with homes and businesses.
The DLR has grown a lot since it started. It now goes north to Stratford and south to Lewisham. To the west, it reaches Tower Gateway and Bank in the City of London, which is a financial area. To the east, it goes to Beckton, London City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal.
The DLR serves areas in the City of London and the boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich and Lewisham. Most of the DLR lines are north of the River Thames. Out of 45 stations, only four are underground: Woolwich Arsenal, Island Gardens, Bank and Cutty Sark.
Contents
How the DLR Connects London
The DLR helps people travel around London by connecting to other transport systems. This makes it easy to switch between different trains and buses.
Connecting to the London Underground
You can easily change from the DLR to the London Underground (the Tube) at several stations.
- At Bank, you can connect to the Central, Circle, District, Northern, and Waterloo & City Tube lines.
- Canning Town and West Ham both connect to the Jubilee line. West Ham also connects to the Hammersmith & City and District lines.
- Stratford is a big hub where you can get on the Central and Jubilee Tube lines.
- There are also indirect connections at places like Canary Wharf, Bow Church, and Tower Gateway. This means you might walk a short distance to reach the Tube station.
Connecting to Other Trains
The DLR also links up with other train services.
- You can connect to the London Overground at Stratford and Shadwell.
- For longer journeys, you can connect to National Rail trains at stations like Greenwich, Lewisham, Limehouse, Woolwich Arsenal, Stratford, West Ham, and Stratford International.
DLR Stations: Quick Facts
The DLR has 45 stations in total. Each station is in a specific part of London and belongs to a London Travelcard zone. These zones help work out the cost of your journey.
Many stations are above ground, offering great views of the Docklands area. Some stations are very modern, built as part of new developments. Others are in older areas, sometimes even on the site of old railway stations.
For example, Bank DLR station opened in 1991, but the Tube stations it connects to are much older, dating back to the late 1800s. Canary Wharf was built later than the first DLR lines because the big Canary Wharf area wasn't ready yet.
Some stations have been moved or rebuilt over time to make them better. Heron Quays and Mudchute are examples of stations that were moved. Pudding Mill Lane was even rebuilt on a new path because of the Crossrail tunnel project.
Future Plans for DLR Stations
The DLR network is still growing! There are plans for new stations to be built in the future.
New Stations Coming Soon
- Thames Wharf: This station will be in Newham. It's being built as part of a big project that includes the Silvertown Tunnel. After the tunnel is finished in 2025, new homes and this DLR station will be built.
Possible Future Extensions
There's also a plan to extend the DLR even further to Thamesmead.
These two stations are part of a planned extension. Experts are currently studying how to make this extension happen.
Safeguarded Station Sites
Sometimes, when the DLR lines are built, special spots are set aside for future stations. These are called "safeguarded" sites. It means the space is kept clear in case a station is needed there later.
Stations That Were Once Safeguarded and Are Now Open
- Pudding Mill Lane: This station was planned when the DLR first started and opened in 1996.
- Langdon Park: This station was also planned early on and opened in 2007.
Stations That Are No Longer Planned
- An older plan for a Thames Wharf near Canning Town is no longer possible because of how other DLR lines were built. However, a new site for a Thames Wharf station was later chosen.
- The Connaught station was once planned between Prince Regent and Royal Albert stations. Even though there's still space, there are no current plans to build a station there.
Images for kids
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Abbey Road DLR station
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All Saints DLR station
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Bank DLR station
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Beckton DLR station
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Beckton Park DLR station
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Blackwall DLR station
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Bow Church DLR station
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Canary Wharf DLR station
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Canning Town DLR station (High Level)
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Canning Town DLR station (Low Level)
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Crossharbour DLR station
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Custom House for ExCeL DLR station
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Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich DLR station
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Cyprus DLR station
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Deptford Bridge DLR station
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Devons Road DLR station
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East India DLR station
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Elverson Road DLR station
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Gallions Reach DLR station
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Greenwich DLR station
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Heron Quays DLR station
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Island Gardens DLR station
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King George V DLR station
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Langdon Park DLR station
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Lewisham DLR station
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Limehouse DLR station
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London City Airport DLR station
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Mudchute DLR station
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Pontoon Dock DLR station
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Poplar DLR station
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Prince Regent DLR station
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Pudding Mill Lane DLR station
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Royal Albert DLR station
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Royal Victoria DLR station
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Shadwell DLR station
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South Quay DLR station
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Star Lane DLR station
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Stratford DLR station (High Level)
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Stratford DLR station (Low Level)
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Stratford High Street DLR station
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Stratford International DLR station
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Tower Gateway DLR station
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West Ham DLR station
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West India Quay DLR station
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West Silvertown DLR station
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Westferry DLR station
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Woolwich Arsenal DLR station
