Transport for LondonDocklands Light Railway - Three-carriage Capacity Enhancement: Overview
Skip to navigationConstruction and Station Modification
Construction to enable DLR to operate three-carriage trains has commenced. The main design and build contract was awarded to Taylor Woodrow on 3 May 2007.
The work involves:
- Extending station platforms
- Remodelling Tower Gateway station
- Improvement works at Bank station
- A new South Quay station, built 200m east of the existing station
- Strengthening of viaducts and bridges; and
- Three new junctions adjacent to Tower Gateway, West India Quay and Canning Town to improve train reliability and frequency at these busy locations
The majority of this work is being carried out during weekends and at night. Taylor Woodrow is committed to limiting disruption and inconvenience to local residents and passengers. If you have any concerns about the construction works in your area, please call the dedicated construction hotline: 0800 033 6380.
DLR is working to secure funding toward three-car infrastructure at Beckton, Custom House, Gallions Reach, Prince Regent and Royal Albert.
The project will be complete in 2010.
Tower Gateway
Tower Gateway station has been temporarily closed since 28 June 2008 and will reopen in Spring 2009 for major upgrade works to allow three-carriage trains to operate into the station. The station works will help to remove congestion from the station by providing greater amounts of platform space.
Delta Junction Upgrade
The Delta Junction is the point where a number of DLR routes meet just to the north of West India Quay station. The junction’s current layout places a restriction on the frequency of DLR services that can operate. As part of these proposals, DLR is changing the layout of the tracks at the junction to improve operations and to potentially run more trains.
To achieve this, a new track will be routed below the current junction, enabling trains from Bank to pass trains running from Lewisham and Canary Wharf to Poplar at the same time. This would allow additional services to operate from the Royal Docks to Canary Wharf in future. It would also mean that some trains from Bank would not stop at West India Quay station, improving journey times between the City and the Isle of Dogs. Given that Canary Wharf and Poplar stations are in very close proximity of West India Quay station, there are alternatives available for those passengers that currently alight trains which originate from Bank. All other services would continue to stop at West India Quay.
The Scheme: A new viaduct under the existing junction (a 'fly-under' arrangement) will be provided as shown on theplan.
South Quay Station
At the existing South Quay station the tight radius curves at either end of the station means that the platforms cannot be lengthened in their current location. DLR is relocating the station to the east of its current position, over the 'Millwall Cut' where there is a straight section of track.
The primary objective of the relocation would be to create a station which can accommodate three-carriage trains, but with minimal disruption to DLR services.
The existing South Quay station will remain open until the construction of the new station is completed.
Station Upgrades
All Saints
The upgrade will see existing staggered platforms extended to the south as shown on the plan. In this direction, there is more space to undertake the work rather than the alternative of extending northwards. This option involves moving a track crossover slightly further to the south which has been completed.
Bank
Bank station will close from December 2009 for five weeks whilst track remodelling, signalling works and testing is undertaken as part of the three-carriage upgrade works.
Beckton
The station will be extended to the east as shown on the plan.
Blackwall
The platforms are to be extended to the east as there is space either side of the viaduct to achieve this as shown on the plan.
Bow Church
There are a number of constraints around Bow Church station that make extending the platforms more difficult than most other stations. The platforms are to be extended to the south as shown on the plan. In this direction, there is more space available and much of the work can be undertaken without disrupting train services. The southbound platform would taper slightly in order to minimise the amount of land required adjacent to the existing tracks on the east side of the station.
Crossharbour
Platform extension to north end of station with new stairs to ground level.
Custom House
The platforms are to be extended the island to the west as shown on the plan.
Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark is an underground station that has insufficient platform length for three-car trains; therefore selective door opening will be introduced where the first and last doors of a three-car train will remain closed when a train is at the station. There is an emergency walkway already provided to ensure safe operation in the event of door failure.
Deptford Bridge
Platform extension to south end of station, new canopy 53m long at north end of station to both platforms.
Devons Road
The close proximity of the Devons Road bridge crossing the DLR tracks to the north of the station means that both platforms are to be extended to the south, where there is space available, as shown on the plan.
East India
The platforms are to be extended to the east as there is space either side of the viaduct to achieve this as shown on the plan.
Elverson Road
Whilst three-car trains will run through Elverson road, there is insufficient room to extend the platforms for three-car trains, therefore selective door opening will be introduced with an emergency walkway provided to ensure safe operation.
Gallions Reach
The platforms are to be extended to the north as shown on the plan.
Greenwich
Platform extension to south end of station, replacement of emergency staircase to southbound platform.
Limehouse
Platform extension and new concourse at east end of station. New and replacement canopy to full length of station. New lift and stairs at east end of station to both platforms. New interchange bridge from C2C westbound platform to eastbound DLR platform. Replacement staircase on Westbound platform in position of existing staircase.
Lewisham
Platform extension to north end of station.
Mudchute
Platform extension to north end of station and creation of 3rd platform where current siding exists. Removal of existing canopy to Soutbound platform and replacement with 30m new canopy. Removal of existing canopy to northbound platform and replacement with 50m platform to both existing northbound platform and new platform.
Prince Regent
The platforms are to be extended the island to the west as shown on the plan.
Pudding Mill Lane
Pudding Mill Lane will receive minor extensions to the existing platform and trains will operate a selective door opening proccess.
Royal Albert
Selective door opening will be introduced where the first and last doors of a three-car train will remain closed when a train is at the station. There is an emergency walkway already provided to ensure safe operation in the event of door failure.
Shadwell
Platform extension to east end of station with new emergency exit to ground level.
Westferry
Platform extension and new concourse at east end of station. New and replacement canopy to full length of station. New lift and stairs at east end of station to both platforms.
West India Quay
Decommissioning of Platform 1 to accommodate new grade separated route from Bank/Tower Gateway. Platform extensions to south end of station to other platforms.
Note:
Bank, Beckton Park, Canary Wharf, Canning Town, Cyprus, Heron Quays, Poplar and Stratford stations already have platforms long enough to accommodate three-carriage trains and require no major platform upgrade works.
It should also be noted that Royal Victoria is already in the planned process of being upgraded to accommodate three carriage trains as part of separate projects.
Depots
As a result of the new 55 additional vehicles needed to run longer trains DLR have expanded the existing depot at Beckton.
Code of Construction Practice
It is envisaged that most construction impacts will be controlled by adherence to a Code of Construction Practice (CoCP). The draft CoCP prepared for the three-car scheme will be developed through discussions with the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Newham and other appropriate statutory bodies.
The draft represents a level of mitigation to which the DLRL is committed and this has been taken into account in the EIA. The CoCP sets out the measures that will be undertaken by the Contractor (i.e. the organisation DLRL selects to build the scheme) to ensure site safety and good site practice with regard to the environment during construction works. The CoCP contains relevant statutory codes, standards and legislation applicable to the regulation of construction practice and its effects on health and safety and the environment.
It sets out a variety of good practice procedures to control noise, dust, site discharges and works traffic and measures to protect groundwater and aquifers during works.
