Tower Gateway DLR station facts for kids
Tower Gateway is a busy train station in the City of London, England. It's part of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) system. This station is super close to famous places like the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, which are popular tourist spots. It's also built on the same land where an older train station, called Minories, used to be. This old station was part of the London and Blackwall Railway. Tower Gateway is also very near Fenchurch Street station, another important train hub. It's located in Travelcard Zone 1, which is the very center of London's public transport network.
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What is Tower Gateway?
Tower Gateway is a special kind of train station that serves the Docklands Light Railway, or DLR for short. The DLR is a modern, automated train system. This means many of its trains don't have a driver on board! Tower Gateway is one of the main starting points for DLR trains heading east. It helps thousands of people travel around London every day.
Where is Tower Gateway Located?
This station is right in the heart of London, in an area called the Tower ward. Its name, "Tower Gateway," comes from its close location to the historic Tower of London. This famous castle has a long and exciting history. The station is also just a short walk from the stunning Tower Bridge, a well-known landmark that crosses the River Thames. Being so central makes Tower Gateway a key spot for both locals and visitors exploring the city.
A Bit of History
The land where Tower Gateway station now stands has a long railway past. Before the DLR was built, this site was home to the Minories station. Minories was part of the London and Blackwall Railway, one of London's earliest railways. This old railway opened way back in 1840! It was built to connect the City of London with the busy docks in East London. So, Tower Gateway continues a long tradition of connecting people and places in this historic part of the city.
Getting Around London
Tower Gateway station is located in Travelcard Zone 1. London's public transport system is divided into zones, with Zone 1 being the central area. This means it's easy to get to many popular places from Tower Gateway. You can quickly reach other parts of central London using the DLR or by changing to other train lines. The station is also very close to Fenchurch Street station. This makes it simple for people to switch between DLR trains and mainline trains that go to places outside of London.
Images for kids
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The entrance to the station in 1988.
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The original platforms, with the throat of Fenchurch Street railway station to the right.
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View from the re-modelled station looking east, with Fenchurch Street approach tracks to the left.
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View of the re-modelled station looking west to buffers.
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Looking east past the buffers towards a train awaiting departure.
