What was once considered one of London’s least reliable stations will soon be reopening its doors having undergone a rather gargantuan £5.2 million glow up. Cutty Sark has been closed for the best part of a year (since May 31, 2025), but will officially be back in action from Monday, March 23, decked out with four shiny new state-of-the-art escalators.
The previous pesky escalators at Cutty Sark were the ongoing cause of many travel disruptions. So much so that more than 3,500 people signed a petition for them to be replaced. The old escalators dated back to 1999, when the DLR was extended to Lewisham – and they endured an abundance of issues and closures in recent years, meaning that passengers frequently had to tackle the 121 steps at the station instead.
In what has been described as ‘the most complex escalator replacement scheme ever undertaken on the DLR and the London Underground’, the four new escalators have now officially been installed at the south London station and will up and running from March 23 (a week earlier than TfL had originally anticipated). With part of them having been delivered by freight train, the new escalators are set to be far more reliable than their predecessors, and last the station around 30 to 40 years.
What other work has been completed at Cutty Sark?
Alongside the enormous escalator upgrade, a new lift has also been installed at the station. Bright white wall coverings have been put in place, alongside new energy-efficient lighting, upgraded safety features, local artwork, and a new raised ceiling to create a more open and airy space.
Cutty Sark is the 3rd busiest station on the DLR (after Canary Wharf and Limehouse) and prior to its closure saw around 7.6 million annual entries and exits. Cutty Sark is also the station that serves Greenwich town centre and its local attractions, including the Old Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum, and – well… Cutty Sark. Footfall has reportedly fallen in the historic market town since the station’s closure, and so its reopening will come as pretty fab news for local business owners. The station will also be back in action in time for the London Marathon in April, ready to welcome a whole host of spectators.
Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “It’s fantastic to see this major upgrade at Cutty Sark DLR station being delivered earlier than expected, meaning Londoners and visitors will soon be able to enjoy quicker and easier journeys to and from Greenwich town centre. The Mayor and I feel strongly that everyone should be able to enjoy everything our great city has to offer, so public transport network improvements like this are vital as we continue building a fairer, greener, better London for everyone.”
