The idea of extending the DLR to Dagenham Dock has been examined
several times. It was first investigated in 1997, when DLR Ltd looked at
possible extensions to the network which could be realised within the
ten-year period up to 2007. A Dagenham Dock scheme was not taken forward
at that time because the land use and development proposals for
Dagenham Dock and Dagenham were not fully developed and the likely
timescale for re-development of the area was beyond the designated
period up to 2008.
However, by 2002, the emerging plans for both Barking Riverside and
for South Dagenham envisaged as many as 11,000 new homes in Barking
Riverside and significant employment and new homes around South
Dagenham. The Barking Riverside area has now been identified in the
London Plan and emerging proposals for regeneration of the Thames
Gateway sees it as a location for major housing growth and employment.
The Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London (TfL)
requested that DLR undertake initial feasibility studies into possible
route options and costs for an extension through to Barking Riverside.
In February 2002, Docklands Light Railway Limited (DLR Ltd) appointed
consultants to examine outline engineering corridors for a proposed
eastern extension of the DLR from the existing network. This work was
completed in mid 2002 and highlighted Barking town centre, Renwick Road
or Dagenham Dock as possible terminus destinations.
Following further work and stakeholder consultation, it was concluded
that the optimal route eastwards involved extending the DLR to Dagenham
Dock. This was principally due to the potential interchange
opportunities, the need to fully serve the planned Barking Riverside
area and the desire for the potential of the DLR to unlock sites further
east.
In March 2006 the Mayor of London instructed DLR to develop this
scheme further. In response to this DLR has developed a proposed route
for the extension. A team of consultants were appointed to review the
previous route proposals and develop a detailed route between Gallions
Reach and Dagenham Dock.
A TWA order application was made to the Secretary of State for
Transport in April 2008 to get permission to build the extension. The
application was subsequently withdrawn in December 2009. The application
was withdrawn due to the lack of funding and a delay in building new
homes at Barking Riverside, where many of the passengers expected to use
the extension will come from.
DLR is working to safeguard the proposed route for the extension so that it can still be delivered in the future.
The aims of the Dagenham Dock extension are:
- To help facilitate the planned growth in housing and employment in
the Thames Gateway region by unlocking sites for development and
bringing new homes, jobs, businesses and facilities into the area
- To help deliver a high density, public transport orientated community that minimises reliance on the car
- To create a new reliable public transport link that will provide
connections to other parts of east London including, the Royal Docks,
the city and key employment and residential centres; and
- To provide new interchange opportunities with the planned East London Transit services and existing rail and local bus services