Poor Old Tower Gateway

[@PokhrajRoy.]

“…77 million pounds or a round of drinks on the West End.” Hahaha I love this 😂

[@robertbruce7686]

@The Bad Lieutenant 😆 classy

[@Keithbarber]

That was 1987 prices 😳 Accounting for inflation.....

[@photoisca7386]

I think that it's the "Jago-Gems" why I actually tune in. The railway stuff I can take or leave.

[@Keithbarber]

@The Bad Lieutenant yes even I forgot that

[@katrinabryce]

@The Bad Lieutenant I've never tipped in a pub. Is that a thing?

[@Vanders456]

Tower Gateway serves an extremely important function for those of us who despise Bank station.

[@litetaker]

Bank station is a nightmare. Sadly, there is a growing tribe of underground dwelling people stuck in Bank station, for they can never figure out how to exit that labryinth of a station.

[@marcelwiszowaty1751]

To be fair it's much improved since the new Northern Line platform and connections to the Central Line were opened.

[@matthewstevens4462]

Great for PSAs. I can usually get 4 mins dwell at TOG to sit and relax before another rounder! Bank? Not a hope in hell.

[@helenfox2783]

I love Tower Gateway

[@zaleost]

@@litetakeri remember once when I loved to London and was meeting a friend near bank coming from Canary Wharf, the way in was so packed they had closed the entrance gates and people where literally suck standing still unable to move forward.

[@frankupton5821]

I like the way that London's transport system is a messy memorial to past enthusiasms, like an archetypal teenager's bedroom - a distressing muddle that somehow kind of works, most of the time.

[@Justanotherperson_01]

*some of the time lmao

[@jnbsp3512]

@@Justanotherperson_01 some of the time allll the time 😎

[@jimmeade2976]

As a member of the original team that built the DLR, one of the benefits of Tower Gateway (TOG ) was to provide tourists with an easy way to get between The Tower of London / Tower Bridge and Greenwich, two historically important areas for tourism. Originally, TOG trains went to Island Gardens, at which a person would walk through the Thames Tunnel to Greenwich. Back in the late 1980s, I and many others did just that ... as tourists. To do that today, a person would need to change trains (since TOG trains only go to Beckton), and exit the DLR on the south side of the river at Greenwich.

[@AndreiTupolev]

2:14I love those 'next train' indicators that say 'Check front of train'. "We've no idea how far it may be going, it's entirely up to the driver" 🤷‍♂️, it seems to be saying

[@ktipuss]

Architecturally, Lemon squeezer combined with Crystal Palace revival style.

[@MercenaryPen]

time to rename the station Perspex Palace

[@Roland-yb4nx]

Think of it as The Tower of London's tomato house.

[@neville132bbk]

Lemonsqueezer...part of NZ Army dress uniform.

[@andeegreen]

Towie G & T Gates are little flashes of the brilliance of J Hazz. Chapeau sir! 👏

[@Julius_Hardware]

Checked the album sleeve notes - yes that's the original lyrics. Was cut down for the single release of course - a bit like the DLR plans.

[@YetAnotherGeorgeth]

The fact that Mick was able to sing all that in one breathe is something very few talk about but it was certainly an achievement.

[@Dave_Sisson]

Well Mick Jagger did attend the LSE, so it is understandable that he would write lyrics like that.

[@jerribee1]

Your Rolling Stones reference reminded me of a Limerick that goes thus: There was a young man from Japan Whose verses would never quite scan. When asked why this was, He said it's because I always like to try and get as many words into the last line as I possibly can.

[@michaelorton6947]

The version I learnt at school has 19 words in the last line to your 18: There was a young man from Japan Whose limericks never would scan When told this was so He replied yes I know But I always try to get as many worlds into to the last line as I ever possibly can.

[@iankemp1131]

Love the Towie G casually slipped in at 6:57. Made a special trip last year to finally travel from the station. If they had enough capacity at Bank it would probably have gone by now. Also lucky there was space fory the viaduct. But it's a classic example of half a loaf is better than none; Towie G got the DLR started, it built up success, demand rose and it could then be expanded. Like Crossrail was originally projected to stop at Maidenhead and maybe not run to Heathrow, which seemed nonsense but got the project authorised. Of course by the time it was complete it could run to Reading. The flipside was the Kings Cross-Cambridge electrification in 1978 which stopped at Royston for fiscal reasons, it being "only a formality" to add on the extra few miles to Cambridge. It got turned down and took several more years, during which time there was a 2 coach dmu shuttle.

[@sianwarwick633]

T Gates is nice too

[@davidjames579]

I was staying in the Tower Hill area for a few days, visiting different parts of the city. One day I decided to go to Canary Wharf for a look round, as I'd never been. I knew I'd have to get the DLR but couldn't figure where the nearest DLR station to Tower Hill would be. After looking into it, I realised that the unwashed, slightly dystopian looking covered steps I'd walked past every day was it. Called Tower Gateway it hadn't occurred to me it might be a railway station, and instead had thought it was some kind of development proposal exhibition on the area or business enterprise centre. Once inside it was very desolate, and it did seem an oddly understated access to the quite wonderful DLR.

[@jumpingjeffflash9946]

I just came back a few weeks ago from London for a week vacation, such a cool city. I recognize that area at 1:24, it's Limehouse. I walked around that very area from where this was filmed. I was there to visit a friend who was in the 4 tall buildings to the right (not seen) I walked over that metal bridge to get to the home she lived in. I used Tower Gateway to get back and forth from Tower Hill (where i stayed at Citizen M) to Limehouse and used Fenchurch St. once, I love this channel and London (from USA)

[@jamesgilbart2672]

Excellent report! Since Fenchurch Street is the only London terminus without a tube station, a new underground station on the DLR Bank line with that same name having passages to Tower Hill station might be a good way to eliminate the existing Tower Gateway station.

[@whyamiwhat]

the line is too steep for a platform sadly

[@thatcommentaccount69]

Hmm I thought City Thameslink counted as a terminus, it is certainly listed as such on the London and South East rail map... Although I think it has an interchange with St Paul's UG... A mystery of its time

[@whyamiwhat]

@@thatcommentaccount69 for Thameslink's ticketing purposes yes, they count it (makes it a lot simpler for buyers and staff) but trains terminating at City is rare - i think just 2 trains terminate there every night to run into the snow hill carriage sidings and likewise those same 2 start from city every morning

[@alejandrayalanbowman367]

Hi Jago from Spain. Because of the intensity of the Fenchurch St to Barking and beyond sevices, four tracks are needed in the approach to Fenchurch St. to provide holding space for when a platform was occupied. The handing over of two tracks west from the then Stepney East to the DLR created the need for a new junction at Christian St. and thus four tracks were restored outside Fenchurch St. Initially this caused a number of problems with regard to train describers at Barking. I had to stand at the signal at the London end of East Ham, identify each train as it approached, and tell Barking box whether it was for East Ham depot, Tilbury or Upminster. Fortunately the weather was kind.

[@SketchyScot]

Interesting, I didn't realise it had such history. when I last did a London bash in 2019 I stayed in the docklands Travelodge, and due to works on the line on the weekend they were terminating at Tower Gateway, thought it was a decent enough wee station...even if the escalators were broke on both days!

[@Recessio]

One of the best remaining examples of the original DLR postmodernist-ish architecture. If it does get demolished, I hope they manage to preserve or relocate some of it

[@ajs41]

I've always had a soft spot for Tower Gateway. The funny thing is until about 2010 I thought the DLR was some sort of special service that wasn't open to everyone, so I didn't use it until then. (For instance, I sometimes thought it was maybe just for people working in the Canary Wharf area). I felt really stupid when I realised it had always been open to the public from the start.

[@ugiswrong]

What? The DLR is free for all the public??! No way!

[@litetaker]

@@ugiswrong who said free? You have to tap in and out or else one of these days, that guy with a fare validator will come on the train and you'll be in big trouble, buddy!

[@PMA65537]

@@litetaker tell him you're the driver

[@BboyCorrosive]

0_o

[@alexhamilton6188]

So glad I had those Fenchurch street bridges painted RAL 5003 Blue and white lined, they look great.

[@scottredmond9997]

Tower gateway provides a step free interchange with the district line where bank does not!

[@Nick_80599]

The black New World phone box outside was once two blue greenhouse Mercury phone kiosks. I thought they looked well with the design of the DLR stations

[@TheLandOfJonny]

I've always had a soft spot for Tower Gateway and I forever wish they'd clean the roof of the entrance.

[@uries15]

1:23 Sailing barge Xylonite. I think we might have seen her before so if so, thanks again. We go back 40-odd years sailing out of Maldon up to Harwich.

[@skiesboi]

You killed me with the comment "77 million pounds, or around the cost of a round of drinks in the West End." 🤣🤣🤣

[@lewisdsd]

Loved that Rolling Stones quote 👌🏽

[@lewis72]

1:46 Haha, I've just remembered the Spitting Image puppet of Norman Fowler.

[@hondohsv]

Amazing! I always enjoy your history lessons of appearing and disappearing train/tube stations and now I am a little bit part of such kind of history: remember my school trip from Hamburg in 1987, where we were very first users of the DLR, ridding through the to be developed docklands towards Island Gardens, to proceed on by foot through the tunnel to Greenwich. 30 years later travelling with my father to London, having our base in a no-thrills hotel around Tower Hill, we often used the station in question a lot, to go to Greenwich on Sunday mornings. Proud to be one of the 10%...😁

[@PokhrajRoy.]

“By closing Towie G…” and “T-Gates.” Jago bringing the cool lingo that’s on fleek, fellow YOUTHZ.

[@coyotelong4349]

Jago definitely brings the rizz

[@CBeaumontHIGTFY]

If the train operators have any sense at all, Tower Gateway will remain open. If there is an incident of some kind at Bank, or if the Bank Station is closed, or Strike and so on - TG is ideal as a diversion. It also allows DLR to keep running if the Tube is inaccessible. The turnarounds on automatic computer trains are practically instant so that is no problem.

[@iman2341]

I’ve heard there is actually a bit of straight and level DLR tunnel near Tower Hill as passive provision for an interchange station

[@sonnyauty1992]

Where ya hear that?

[@whyamiwhat]

ive heard that a station anywhere along that entire route was both unfeasible due to cost and disruption and impossible due to the steep grade of the track as it descends - afaik its a constant climb from bank up to the surface

[@leeroberts1192]

@@whyamiwhat I wonder if a couple of loop lines could be installed, one either side of the existing tunnels, made level, where the current tunnels run under Tower Bridge Piazza. Some trains could pull into the loop platforms to serve the area currently served by the existing Tower Gateway station whilst the rest of the trains could take the existing tunnel, bypassing Tower Gateway station.

[@rainyfeathers9148]

Why am I enjoying the name 'Minories' so much😊. This is the first time I've heard of it.

[@rororp]

Dear Mr Duke, there was a great story many years ago concerning the DLR and Chase Manhattan bank. Top executives had flown in from the US and were looking for new premises and Canary Wharf was just getting going. An appointment was made and the executives asked the best way to get there. The DLR was the best and quickest solution. So they went and bought tickets from Gateway. On the journey to the Wharf, the train captain asked to see their tickets. They had in error all bought child tickets and despite protests, were all fined. Fuming, they got off at the Wharf, said the deals off and promptly went back to the City again!

[@cuttingbored4195]

Only in London would 'across the road from the most important historic building in the city' equate to 'in the back streets'.

[@amitbasu8159]

I clicked on the like button at the "It was to cost no more than £77m or about the price of a round of drinks in the West End" line. While that alone earned the like, thanks for putting this togther. There was a period of a few months in 2000 when I used Tower Gateway daily and, although it is some time since I last used it, I will be sorry to see it go. Incidentally, I'm baffled that Tower Gateway doesn't count as an official interchange with Fenchurch Street and Tower Gateway when it is nearer to both than, for instance, the distance between Euston Station and Euston Square.

[@lewistrahar1958]

Ahhh, the front seat on a DLR train. The joy I got from doing that! Takes me back, almost as much as Jago's dulcet tones.

[@AngloPatriot]

I guess it says a lot that I've lived in London my entire life (33 years) and i used TG for the first time ever two weeks ago to get to Custom House and that was only due to the Elizabeth Line having severe delays due to a signal failure at Liverpool Street.

[@davidsummer8631]

I always thought that Tower Gateway was a important station now I have found out it wasn't

[@mubzytv]

I stayed at a Travelodge next to that station a few weeks ago

[@oc2phish07]

Another absolutely top-notch presentation from you Jago. Thanks.

[@mw...]

I enjoy your clever humour. Just a compliment. Not trying to “1 up” you as usual

[@brettpalfrey4665]

77 million quid...there are Premiership footballers who cost more than that! I never really realised just how much of a shoestring budget that the DLR was built on! I am visiting London in September, and I will see if T.Gateway underwhelms me or not! Nice video, Jago, keep em coming!

[@JagoHazzard]

To be fair, that was 80s money. Even so, I think it comes out today at less than the cost of, say, a Star Wars film.

[@mastertrams]

According to the Bank of England's inflation calculator, it equates to ~£208,000,000 in modern money. So only £20mil more than what PSG paid for Neymar. Or about 5x as much as Star Wars: A New Hope's tiny budget ($11m), or about £100m less than Star Wars: The Force Awakens' budget. Also, it cost less to build the DLR than it does to buy even the cheapest MLS club, which is CF Montréal, valued at $390,000,000...

[@michaelhall6178]

Tower Gateway was where I first experienced the DLR back in 1989 or so. Thanks to you, now I shall ever think of it as Towie G or T-Gatez.

[@walker1054]

I don't think i've ever seen it mentioned anywhere including any well known London blogs or specific Tower Gateway videos/posts like this but Tower Gateway is supposedly getting a new entrance soon actually so it has some positive outlook ahead, a big but understandable ommision. I only know this stuff because I go through planning application submitions for certain areas so i saw the plans for the new entrance. It's going to be next to the currecnt secondary entrance on the Royal Mind St devellopment. Basically look at 3:27 on the video and the construction site opposite, there. Not sure why but I guess its quite a simple thing to do if a building is being built there anyway. I suppose it allows them to add a gateline there so they can close off the current secondary entrance. It'll also have a lift. It's been a year since i've seen the plans but i assume they've been approved by now. I can give you where to find out but you probably know where and how to find out already, it'll be on the Tower Hamlets planning site, not CoL. Also if it gets 10% of passengers but 25% of trains then I suppose adding a few more trains to the Bank branch will level it off a bit without touching Tower Gateway. Either way it's not proposed to close until 2050 or so and by then i'm sure the frequency to Bank will be improved anyway and the population will increase enough that the current few trains an hour to Tower Gateway will be justified. Imo it won't get closed unless Fenchurch Street station wants to expand into the space.

[@martynholt7434]

Haha. Those Stones' lyrics proper made us chuckle Jago!!

[@paulmiller591]

Great video. I was an early user of the DLR and remembered the old station format well.

[@annbrew1096]

I hate the way that the 1987 pic was in black and white - we had colour in the 1980s! I remember vividly travelling on the DLR in the early days and there was definitely colour!

[@Blade_Daddy]

You always scare a laugh or two out of me! 😂

[@kenmorris100]

Thanks Jago The Docklands Light Rail is a textbook example of Treasury penny pinching that ended up costing the taxpayers huge amounts later on in upgrading the infrastructure to meet demand later on. Likewise was the decision not to fully rebuild Victoria Underground Station when the Victoria Line was constructed in the 1960s.

[@simonwood6932]

An excellent video as always Jago. Brought back memories of travelling from Waterloo to Poplar in the early 90s to work on the DLR expansion project and having to trudge daily from Tower Hill to Tower Gateway before the Bank tunnel opened

[@phaasch]

Towie G? T-Gates? Love it!

[@CherylSteele-rt8dj]

Marvellous, thank you. I love that whole area, but, again, never bothered to find out its history, reasons for changes, or its rolling stones - sorry, stock. Thank you. As always, a great treat to watch 🎉

[@knowndeserter]

Having used the DLR extensively in the early to mid 2000’s I was quite familiar with the old style Tower Gateway station. However, it was the image of the carriage at the station @ 4:47 that triggered a memory, having first used the DLR from the original Island Gardens in 1989 I had the recollection of the doors opening inwards. A quick search confirmed this. Knowing how busy transport in London can get; how did they think that this would be a good idea and when was it changed?

[@cjayos7654]

I think those original trains with the inwards folding doors were found to be unsuitable for the underground extension at Bank. They were not fire-safety compliant for underground journeys, so were flogged in the early 90s to one of the German transportation authorities, if i am not mistaken.

[@paintedpilgrim]

@@cjayos7654 I believe the P86 stock (Poplar depot) went off to the Stadtbahn in Essen for use on it's new U18 line. But some have undergone a retrofitting programme to run on the systems other lines

[@paintedpilgrim]

Originally the plans for the Docklands was light industry and residential at a relatively low density. Little of this remains. Then another plan came along for a medium density development around the original canary wharf estate.....buildings like 112-114 Marsh Wall. Then we got to the point of what there is now high rises springing up everywhere outside the original cluster of supertalls of Canary Wharf. The DLR first gen trains the P86s were built and ordered with the first plan in mind. The extension to bank didnt work with that model so we got new trains, and more.of them....and the jubilee line to go with the fancy new developments...

[@johnmurray8428]

At your most excellent advice Jago, I got on the DLR the morning of Oct 14th at Tower Gateway (after arriving at Heathrow and taking the tube to Tower Hill) A great ride through familiar areas of London I no longer recognize on a fantastic railway. One change and I was at Stratford. Tower Gateway was a joy, I must had taken 20 photos. The DLR I go on and on about to this day. Great railway, it is how it should be done.

[@mdhazeldine]

I remember first going to Tower Gateway in 1988 to check out the new DLR as a 6 year old kid. It seemed like some space age thing out of the future. I recently went there and found it frustrating how you could literally see the end of the Fenchurch Street platforms, but had to take a very circuitous route to actually get to the station. Something definitely needs to change to make it a useful station in 2023.

[@interstat2222]

80s/90s Docklands were so cool and slick.

[@interstat2222]

If you’re interested in that era you might like 1987 film Empire State. Shows SQP and Skylines Village etc being built in 86.

[@robertward7449]

Bank is an obvious terminus for DLR but the interchange to the tube lines is a real pain. I wouldn't have thought it rocket science to build a more pedestrian friendly interchange at tower gateway to tower hill.

[@drsteele]

Has that changed since the modifications at Bank? Agree that it was a right royal pain in the backside to get to the DLR from the entrance at Bank previously - hopefully the refurb has made it easier.

[@robertward7449]

@QuincyMD the central/northern interchange is much better, but it still seems a bit of a trek to the dlr. I think the basic problem is that they've to push the dlr deep to avoid everything else.

[@kevinmottram9491]

No-one expected the Spanish Solution.

[@Saint_Dan132]

what a wonderful video, insightful both statistically and realistically great look into te current sysem and what could be, i really enjoyed this and think i will spend my sunday binging on the rest of your videos

[@borderlands6606]

Minories. The most famous model railway plan for restricted space. Cheers Cyril.

[@GrahamMacdonald-w9o]

As someone who hasn't used my local railway station here in the Midlands since 1980, I always enjoy the alternative universe on a mode of transport called 'the train' provided by Jago's brilliant, informative and tongue-in-cheek videos. On one of my rare visits to the Big Smoke in about 2017, I set myself the task of ticking off all the places on the London version of the Monopoly board and was amazed how small Fenchurch Street station was inside (but it has a great frontage), even though it doesn't connect to any major cities. Having tramped around the area - admittedly at the weekend - I couldn't believe how many stations there were in that area within a short walk of each other. Therefore, as a precaution against technical failures, would it not be a good idea to keep all the current stations open? P.S. Re the Monopoly trail, when I got home, I realised I had gone to the wrong Vine Street!

[@roderickmain9697]

"...tiiiiiiime, is on my side." . Sometimes I think its the ideas that are wrong, or the implementations, and then its the economic situations. Its still fascinating to see how the ideas change for good or bad as time goes on. Nothing ever seems to end up how it started or quite what people had in mind. "Change is inevitable - except from vending machines"

[@robertwilloughby8050]

"Unless it's a circa 1981 Nestle railway station chocolate vending machine. Then you get more change than you bargained for."

[@chrisfrost8456]

Hi there great video's thank you,now i am not Religious but when you go and see these places it blows your mind like it has clearly blown yours ! Another great city to visit when you are here is York which has Roman,Viking and Saxon remains and a great Cathedral known as York Minister and also a medieval wall to walk around. Cheers

[@chrisfrost8456]

Sorry to confuse you Jago I love your videos and am a great fan that reply I sent you should have gone to a chap in the US who was doing a vid on Canterbury Cathedral, sorry about how that happened I do not know,Cheers

[@bogarte7185]

I remember when the DLR first opened. I lived on the Isle of Dogs and it was absolutely brilliant to have a train. Before then you had to either walk under the river through the Greenwich foot tunnel to get a mainline train, or get a bus up to Mile End tube station and get on the central line. Although it was always breaking down for the first year, the train captain had to take over and drive it to the next station and then reset it.

[@annbrew1096]

My most vivid memory of Tower Gateway is when I had to use it during the summer of rail strikes in 1989. SO busy then, there were queues down the staircase-escalator, and you'd miss 4 or 5 trains before you could cram on one. I now use Fenchurch Street regularly and just assumed Tower Gateway was still a pretty useful station, though now I think about it, Limehouse seems the logical place for people to swap over to the DLR.

[@paintedpilgrim]

I do have to wonder if TfL had the money whether we would actually see the total reorganisation of the three stations at Fenchurch Street, Tower Hill and Gateway into one more centrally (for the 3) located place. In my mind the underground platforms for the District and Circle lines can stay where they are, but the block bounded by Crosswall to the North and Coopers Row to the Wesr, that seem to be occupied by America Square and the various hotels would retain much of the rail approaches and would give relatively easy access to both the Underground and DLR could be expanded too. It would allow for the current station to be redeveloped and newer hotel/buildings to be built. One does have to wonder how much more Bank/Monument can actually take before the whole thing collapses, then they will need somewhere like a renovated and expanded DLR base, especially if the proposed westward extension plans ever happen

[@sianwarwick633]

Always pleased to hear more about the Minories. Maybe if 'they' [insert relevant transport authority/group/cartel here] develop a proper connecting station, the base of the of 13th century abbey will be dug up, thus stopping construction for the foreseeable future

[@pmcKANE]

A whole station for the price of two Babychams, a Bacardi and Coke, and a pint of lager top. Incredible really.

[@deez_nu1s]

Jago keep up the great work, love your videos

[@richteffekt]

It sure was amazing how Jagger made it rhyme so well back when they recorded it.

[@matthewmckever2312]

Theres also a rolling stones song about the northern line. I CANT GET NOOO SATISFACTION. OR ADEQUATE BUS REPLACEMENT SERVICE.

[@cthulhudreams7578]

Algorithm Ultras unite!

[@whiskeytuesday]

How many of us have ultra clearance at this point?

[@Richardincancale]

You should definitely be engaged as a lyric writer for antique rock bands!

[@gritintheoyster]

Excellently researched as always Jago - and I say that as someone who worked for the LDDC at the time.

[@ingridseim1379]

"77 million pounds, or the cost of a round of drinks in the West End..." "Guess again, said the people controlling the purse strings.." And, lastly, imagining Mick Jagger, with a degree in civil engineering, wearing a dress shirt and tie while he tells the Docklands Joint Committee "You Can't Always Get What You Want..." These all made me laugh out loud! I just listened to Vlad Vexler talk about how algorithm-driven audience capture often lures creators to unconsciously drift from their original values or purpose. And now I worry doing similar with effusive praise, so I might be less so in the future, but I will still be here, expanding my horizons and giggling along the way. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@Brenski83]

So i first got the DLR from here to Island gardens on a school trip in the early 90's. Two strange things, sitting at the front, i'm sure there was a national rail platform/NSE trains and a sign for Liverpool St which with what i know now couldn't have been. However catching the DLR years later, i expected to see the Fenchurch Street platform/trains alongside the DLR station. Perhaps it changed when they made modifications but seems unlikely, however i vividly remember seeing the station like that 😮

[@NickyMitchell85]

Good Old Jago Hazzard!

[@HuggyBob62]

Before DLR opened at Bank, I had to follow directions at street level to Tower Hill Gateway. They could at least have built an underground walkway from (say) Tower Hill so that it was weather proof.

[@luxford60]

The problem with that would be having somewhere to put it as the pedestrian route between the two crosses over the District Line tunnel, and being a cut and cover line that doesn't leave a lot of space between the tops of the trains and the road.

[@NickyMitchell85]

…..and you are the concrete extension to my KZbin and to all of KZbin, Sir Jago Hazzard.

[@macmaniac3080]

Never disappointing! I ❤ London one of the greatest cities in the world, what a place!

[@birdbrain4445]

Tower Gateway's an interesting one because I don't live near the Beckton branch of the DLR, I live near the Lewisham branch and that of course uses Bank as its western terminus. So despite going past the station all the time I've actually never used it. I kind of want to at least once, before the place is most likely shuttered, and to see that curious design it has. The poor station really never got to shower itself in glory as it could have, with its thunder being stolen so quickly by the Bank terminus. Great video!

[@DevilSpider_]

I remember visiting this station when I visited London during my school trip to England.

[@johncamp2567]

On of the interesting aspects of the DLR is the integration with the buildings….going through them or under the eaves. ‘Quite fascinating from a modeler’s perspective!

[@JagoHazzard]

I would love to build a model of the DLR.

[@gollyboys1]

Brings back many memories. I was living on the Isle of Dogs when the DLR was in its infancy. I remember the first big malfunction when 2 trains collided at West India Quay. In those early days not a day went by without at least 1 breakdown, meaning that the trains had to be driven manually. Also I remember they didn’t run late at night or at weekends so if you lived there it was back on the bus. Seems like a lifetime ago, One Canada Sq tower was newly built and bankrupt, then the time the trains didn’t stop at South Quay due to the IRA bombing. How times have changed

[@peteregan3862]

While demand at anyone station is a factor for consideration, the most effective railway is a grid shaped network that allows people to move about the metropolitan area with ease. Central London has too many stations. Looking to get rid of some and reuse the land is a good idea. However, the main game for Central London should be linking up all the intercity stations with cross city tunnels so trains terminate at a metropolitan fringe or another city or the coast. The main stations would still be stations, except that they would need, and have, far fewer platforms and those that exist will be on lower levels - the current platform levels would become retail levels and bicycle storage rooms.

[@jnbsp3512]

Yeah I can see as a transport node it sticks out like a bad compromise and space use now, which is funny because it was the result of endless compromises at the time, very cool how you tied that all back together on itself Jago! Your story telling and narration is great. It does seem sad to me it will dissapear because its architectural style is so quirky in a neat way, I hope sections of it can go to an appropriate museum or be featured in whatever new interchange appears in the future. It was helpful at the time and did add value to the area, hope people were thankful for that. And the new idea might add more, even if forecasting has become more complicated. The thumbnail made me think of some pedestrian way or maybe some other station I'm unaware of. It is very diffrent but same vibe/influence, green metal beams, circular roof, curved glass. I saw it in the Micro Men (2009) dramatisation of Acorn vs Sinclair at about 1;04;00 and whenever I see this shape it just feels quaintly british to me

[@ianmcclavin]

Tower Gateway originally had two tracks and a platform serving each. It was a lot busier at first than it is now, as the Bank line didn't exist for the first 3 years. It was originally the only DLR station with escalators. All trains used to run to Island Gardens, then reverse and go up to Stratford, things were a lot simpler then, but full credit to them for building all the extensions. Croydon Tramlink (or whatever they like to call it now) by contrast, has only the lines opened at the outset.

[@thestarlightalchemist7333]

I now find myself wondering if I can draw up future extension plans like I did a little while ago with my "DLR tube" to Thamesmead.

[@sts3570]

Tower gateway is always my go to for anything at the excel, with good access to nearby hotels

[@davidpierce3217]

Enjoyed the song clip by the Rolling Stocks, featuring lead singer Mick Jaggo

[@CalvinsWorldNews]

It's a real shame the pedways scheme never really happened. It would be great to be able to connect on and walk above-ground from Tower Gateway to Fechurch St or directly to workplaces

[@OneBentMonkey]

The Rolling Stones are, indeed, the wise muses of the economic forces influencing London public transport policy decisions

[@crumpet_corner]

T-Gates and Towie G oh my

[@btmurphy88]

Last time I was in the city, I stayed right around the corner from Tower Gateway on Royal Mint. I even took the DLR out to Greenwich. But it definitely feels like Tower Gateway's days are numbered, even if it means Bank will get even more crowded.

[@Mgameing123]

Nice video. At this point Tower Gateway migth aswell close bc Bank really needs the trains.

[@katrinabryce]

I've never been to Tower Gateway since the DLR Bank station opened. These days, I mostly get on the DLR at Heron Quays or Canning Town.

[@andyh444]

I used to get a train from Shadwell to Tower Gateway as my office was on Bevis Marks. I loved the station and would be sad to see it close. Let's hope not 🙂

[@paulmcgeown7022]

I get the 10% of passengers, 25% of terminal services point ... But that is not a reason to close T Gaties, at least not right away. It's a reason to look at the Bank service. Is two platforms (one arrivals, one departures) enough? Is service frequency able to sustain demand? I cannot recall using Bank DLR (pre pandemic admittedly) without finding myself on a congested platform. Shouldn't the Bank situation be addressed before the safety net that is T Gaties is closed?

[@benjones1917]

Love the Rolling Stones reference. As i recall, i think you have the lyrics spot on 👌

[@Thepuffingyank]

stones have no appreciation for pure genius.

[@reubenjelley3583]

Lovely writing as always Jago. Had I got my Time Machine working I’d have an alternate history with rail tracks running across tower bridge. Maybe the district/ circle line could have branched and sneaked through the bridge deck and swapped the bascules to a vertical lift, or link into bricklayers arms or cut and cover toward elephant and beyond. Also those ambitious 1946 plans to build tower bridge station would have an interchange. Or even now now curve the dlr to squeeze through those huge arches and cross the lud to interchange with what maybe the bakerloo extension. Maybe a lot to get through running but I’d love to get railed across tower bridge.

[@christopherdean1326]

Running tracks across a bridge that still has to open occasionally would be ......interesting

[@barrygower6733]

Mick Jago.

[@deeser]

It was like Mick jagger was in the studio with you!

[@captainjoshuagleiberman2778]

I think that was the original lyric but Mick couldn't get his lips around it so they shortened it.😂