DLR set to be extended in London – where are the new stations?

Londoners could soon get a new transport link as a huge extension to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) network is set to get a go-ahead in the autumn budget.

The much-awaited £1.7 billion addition to the DLR in south east London is expected to go ahead, connecting Thamesmead and Beckton Riverside along the River Thames.

The extension, which failed to secure money from the Chancellor in the previous budget or the Spending Review, could cut journey times to central London, Stratford and Canary Wharf.

It has also been hailed as a key to unlocking up to 30,000 new homes and creating 10,000 jobs to boost economic growth.

While the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said the government is backing the DLR extension, the Chancellor has yet to confirm funding for the project ahead of the budget, with rumours swirling over what tax changes are in the pipeline.

However, a Treasury source hinted that the mega-project will be approved next week as it will deliver ‘much-needed new homes, new jobs, and quicker commutes.’

Where will the proposed DLR stations be?

Thamesmead and Beckton Riverside have been underserved by public transport, Khan said, and the boroughs have been described as one of the most deprived in London.

The plan is to extend the line from Gallions Reach station, build a new station in the Beckton Riverside area, and a new tunnel under the river connecting to another new station in Thamesmead.

The line could be potentially extended further into Bexley.

At the moment, Thamesmead is not served by the Tube or Overground, and residents have to catch a bus to Abbey Wood for the Elizabeth line and rail services.

When will the DLR extension open?

The government is expected to confirm funding for the construction, which is estimated to cost £1.7 billion.

The new stations and the line extension could open by 2032, the Mayor said.

As the construction will take years, the Mayor has pledged to launch a new Superloop bus route connecting Abbey Wood, Thamesmead, Woolwich and North Greenwich. The express bus is set to launch in January.

Khan said: ‘I’m really pleased that the Government is backing the DLR extension to Thamesmead – something I’ve long called for alongside London’s businesses and communities.

‘The project is a win-win and a massive vote of confidence in London. It will not only transform travel in a historically underserved part of the capital, but also unlock thousands of new jobs and homes, boosting the economy not just locally but nationally.

‘I look forward to working hand in hand with Ministers to deliver this vital project as we continue building a more prosperous London for everyone.’

Abena Oppong-Asare, the MP for Erith and Thamesmead, told Metro: ‘This is a huge step forward for Thamesmead. For too long, residents have been cut off from the transport links that much of London takes for granted. The DLR extension will finally change that – opening up access to jobs, education and opportunities across the capital.

‘This breakthrough belongs to everyone who backed the campaign – residents, community groups and partners across London. Now we need confirmation in the Budget and a clear path to delivery, because Thamesmead has waited long enough.’

Len Duvall, the London Assembly member for Greenwich and Lewisham, welcomed the extension and said the focus now has to be on ensuring the funding and planning to begin quickly.

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