More details of plans for the proposed DLR extension have been revealed — including layouts for new stations at Beckton Riverside and and Thamesmead — as part of a public consultation.
The DLR extension, first officially proposed by TfL in 2020, would see a long-awaited station at Thamesmead, a town built in the 1960s, which has infamously lacked a rail connection ever since (even though it could've had up to three railway stations). A second DLR station would be built opposite Gallions Reach Shopping Park at Beckton Riverside, a sweeping area of regeneration in Newham.
TfL's consultation — which is live from now until Thursday 16 July 2026 — includes plans for Beckton Riverside station, featuring a pedestrian footbridge with lifts for crossing the tracks; and for Thamesmead, which will be a raised station. The two will be joined by a new tunnel under the Thames.
As well as asking for views on the two station designs, TfL is after feedback on construction methods, and potential impacts of the extension build on local communities and the environment.
In all, says TfL, the extension could support up to 30,000 homes and 10,000 jobs.
Says the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan: "This is something I've long called for — alongside London's businesses and communities — because it will not only transform travel in a historically underserved part of our city, but also unlock thousands of new jobs and homes, boosting the economy across the capital and indeed the country."
Various construction commencement dates have been mooted; we've heard 2027 and 2028 — and now TfL says "construction could begin in 2029, subject to funding and approvals". Whether the line will be ready for passengers by the 'early 2030s', as previously estimated, remains to be seen. But for residents of Thamesmead who've already been waiting some 60 years, what's a a few more years?
You can get involved with the consultation, until 16 July 2026.
