Plans for a £1.7 billion Docklands Light Railway (DLR) extension in east London, featuring two new stations, are being finalised. A final consultation is now underway, and a map illustrating the proposed routes has been released.
Route and Stations
The new route will branch off from the existing DLR line to Beckton at Gallions Reach. Trains will continue to Beckton Riverside before terminating at Thamesmead. Construction involves building two tunnels under the River Thames, along with the two new stations: Beckton Riverside on the north side and Thamesmead on the south.
The extension received approval after funding was allocated in Labour's November 2025 budget. During the final consultation, more detailed plans for the stations will be reviewed.
Station Designs
Beckton Riverside will be at street level, featuring a footbridge and lifts connecting two platforms on either side of the track. Thamesmead will be built on the site of Cannon Retail Park, elevated on a viaduct, with a central platform and tracks running on either side.
Service Frequency
Trains are expected to run every eight to ten minutes along the new route and every eight to ten minutes from Beckton. This means Gallions Reach will see services every four to five minutes.
Future Extensions
There are no current plans to extend the DLR further. However, the new Thamesmead station will be designed to allow for a potential future extension towards Belvedere in Bexley, southeast London.
Timeline
Once final details are confirmed, Transport for London (TfL) will submit a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application. If approved, construction can proceed. TfL aims to submit the application in early 2027, with construction potentially starting in 2029. The new stations could open in the early 2030s.
Background
Thamesmead, on the border of Greenwich and Bexley, is a residential area primarily consisting of 1960s social housing built on former marshland. Beckton, in the London borough of Newham, was also built on marshland known as the East Ham Levels, with housing constructed in the 19th century for workers at the Beckton Gas Works and Beckton Sewage Treatment Works.
TfL states that the extension will improve transport connections and enable the construction of up to 25,000 new homes along the route.
