Transport for LondonOption Appraisal
DLR has considered a number of options for increasing capacity on the Poplar and Stratford routes. These include:
- Increasing standing space on trains, by changing the seating layout. This would provide only a small increase in capacity, and disadvantage some people as fewer seats would be provided; and
- Increasing service frequency. Other improvements are being made to allow train frequencies to increase. DLR’s new station at Stratford will have two platforms to allow more trains to run between Poplar and Stratford. In addition, DLR’s plans to improve the junction at the centre of the network will allow new services to be introduced.
However, the introduction of longer trains represent the most realistic way of increasing capacity enough to cater for future increases in demand.
Proposed Scheme
DLR is proposing to upgrade the route between Poplar and Beckton (‘East Route’) and Poplar and Stratford (‘North Route’) to allow longer three-car trains to run on these lines. The elements of the project are:
- Extending platforms and some canopies at 11 stations to match the longer trains; - Stations to be Upgraded – Summary Plan (30KB).
- Modifications to track layout at All Saints and Bow Church stations to enable platform extensions
- Making improvements to a major junction at the centre of the DLR network (the ‘Delta Junction’) to allow new and increased services to operate.
Station Upgrades
Set out below are the options being taken forward for each station by the project team to allow three-car train operation.
Note:
It should be noted that Poplar, Stratford and Royal Victoria are already planned or in the process of being upgraded to accommodate three-car trains as part of separate projects. Furthermore, Canning Town, Beckton Park and Cyprus already have platforms long enough and require no major upgrade works.
North route station upgrades
1. All Saints
Favoured option: The current favoured option would see the 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 would involve moving a track crossover slightly further to the south.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 432kb
2. Devons Road
Favoured option: The close proximity of the Devons Road bridge crossing the DLR tracks to the north of the station means that there is only one viable option for extending the platforms. This would see both platforms extended to the south, where there is space available, as shown on the plan.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 425kb
3. Bow Church
Favoured option: There are a number of constraints around Bow Church station that make extending the platforms more difficult than most other stations. The favoured option is to extend the platforms 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. This option also provides the opportunity to provide a new station entrance directly from the Crossways Estate.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 430kb
Realigning the track and station to create more space between the station and the adjacent housing development would require temporary closures of the railway. This would cause disruption and inconvenience for many passengers.
4. Pudding Mill Lane
Favoured option: Extend the island platform westwards as shown on the plan.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 418kb
Alternative option: An alternative would be to extend the platforms eastwards. However, the existing stairs and lift would make this difficult to achieve.
East route station upgrades
5. Blackwall
Favoured option: Extend the platforms to the east as there is space either side of the viaduct to achieve this as shown on the plan.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 434kb
6. East India
Favoured option: Extend the platforms to the east as there is space either side of the viaduct to achieve this as shown on the plan.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 1012kb
7. Custom House
Favoured option: Extend the island platform to the west as shown on the plan.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 1050kb
8. Prince Regent
Favoured option: Extend the island platform to the west as shown on the plan.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 423kb
9. Royal Albert
Favoured option: Extend the platforms eastwards as shown on the plan. The majority of passengers that use Royal Albert station walk to/from the north side of Royal Albert Way. It is therefore an advantage that additional accesses to the platforms could be provided at the eastern end of the station if desirable.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 426kb
10. Gallions Reach
Favoured option: Extend the platforms to the north as shown on the plan.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 421kb
11. Beckton
Favoured option: As the station at Beckton is at the end of the line, the only realistic option is to extend the platforms to the east as shown on the plan.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 425kb
Other related works
To accommodate three-car trains on the section between Bow Church and Stratford, some improvements to the viaduct structures may be needed. Other works required for the upgrade would be enhancements to the power supply and signalling changes.
It is also proposed that canopies at stations would be extended and additional staircases would be constructed where required.
Delta Junction improvements
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 intends to change 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 which will enable trains from from Bank to pass trains running towards Poplar at the same time. This would allow additional services to operate from the Royal Docks to Canary Wharf in future. It would both also mean that some trains from Bank would not stop at West India Quay station, although this will improve 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 West India Quay.
The Scheme: A new viaduct under the existing junction (a 'fly-under' arrangement) will be provided and this is shown on the plan.
View Station Plan - PDF Format - 425kb
