The extension from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead would include a tunnel under the River Thames and a new station at Beckton Riverside. It would build on experience from 2009 when the DLR was extended to Woolwich Arsenal , tunnelling beneath the river, with housing growth following in areas including Woolwich, Canning Town, and the Royal Docks.
TfL chief customer and strategy officer Alex Williams welcomed the support from the public and stakeholders for the extension.
“We will now progress work on plans for the cross-river extension of the DLR, which could see customers benefit from the early 2030s, and continue to discuss funding options with all parties,” said Williams.
TfL and its partners submitted a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) to the government last year outlining how an extension of the DLR could transform the area. An interim Outline Business Case (OBC) should be completed in spring next year. The OBC will respond to government feedback to the SOC and form the basis of development and funding discussions.
The scheme is currently unfunded so the work includes developing a funding and financing strategy, which would likely draw on funding from the private and public sectors, including TfL, local, regional and national sources. The aim is to agree an affordable solution by 2025 to enable construction to begin in 2028 and the extension to open in the early 2030s.
