Cutty Sark DLR Station Set to Reopen with Major Escalator Upgrade
One of south London's busiest train stations, Cutty Sark on the DLR, will finally reopen next week after being closed for 10 months. The station has been fitted with four brand new escalators, and Transport for London (TfL) has announced it will reopen on Monday, March 23, 2026, a week earlier than originally planned.
Long-Awaited Escalator Replacement
For years, all four of Cutty Sark station's old escalators had been plagued by frequent breakdowns. In December 2024, every escalator was simultaneously out of action, forcing commuters to rely on the lift or navigate 121 steps to access the platform for five months. In response, TfL fully shut the station in May 2025 to facilitate a complete replacement of the escalators. During the closure, travelers had to use Greenwich station, located about a 10-minute walk or a short bus ride away.
The new state-of-the-art escalators are now complete, marking a significant improvement for this key transport hub. Each escalator took 17 weeks to build, with the project involving complex engineering due to the station's original "cut and cover" construction. Rob Rusz, programme manager for the DLR, explained the challenges: "This has been incredibly difficult. The station was built with escalators installed by crane and the structure built on top. This time, we had to cut the old escalators into seven pieces, remove them to street level, manufacture new ones in sections, and reassemble them inside the station from scratch."
Impact on Greenwich and Future Plans
Cutty Sark station is a primary access point into Greenwich town and is typically one of the busiest stations in south London, with over 7.6 million entries and exits annually. It serves as a crucial stop for both daily commuters and tourists visiting attractions such as the National Maritime Museum, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Market, and the Cutty Sark ship itself.
In addition to the escalators, a brand new lift has been installed as part of the upgrade. The new escalators are expected to last up to 40 years, with a major overhaul planned for around 20 years into their lifespan. The station's reopening is timely, coinciding with the London Marathon in April 2026, which will see tens of thousands of runners gather in Greenwich, where the event begins.
This reopening addresses long-standing accessibility issues and is set to improve travel efficiency for the millions who rely on this vital south London station each year.
