16.04.14
Work on new Pudding Mill Lane station nears completion
Work to deliver a “bigger” and “better” new Docklands Light Railway (DLR) Pudding Mill Lane station and connect it up to the wider network is nearing completion, TfL has confirmed.
The works, which will help to increase passenger capacity by an extra 1,100 people per hour, are scheduled to finish following a ten-day suspension of services between Stratford and Bow Church from 18-25 April and then from Stratford to Poplar from 10pm on 25-28 April.
Key works during the service suspension will involve connecting the new sets of ‘double-tracked’ rails, signalling and power systems at both ends of the station site to connect it to the rest of the network. Completion of the double tracking work at both ends of the site will enable a capacity of 6,600 passengers per hour in each direction. The current frequency of ten DLR trains per hour delivers a capacity of 5,500 passengers per hour in each direction.
Jonathan Fox, TfL’s director of rail, said: “It won’t be long before our passengers can enjoy all the benefits of this new station, which will have the biggest capacity on the DLR network and will provide excellent access for people travelling to events at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
“We apologise for this interruption to their service, but this is essential work that needs to be done safely, thoroughly and without interruption."
The former Pudding Mill Lane station was located where the Crossrail route reaches the surface and therefore a new station is being built. From the end of 2018, Crossrail trains will emerge from the new tunnels at Pudding Mill Lane and join existing rail lines to make their way through northeast London to Essex.
DLR passengers will be able to interchange with Crossrail, as well as London Underground, London Overground and National Rail, at Stratford station.
Howard Smith, Crossrail operations director, added: “Crossrail has worked very closely with TfL to deliver the new Pudding Mill Lane DLR station. Pudding Mill Lane marks the site where trains travelling from Essex and northeast London will enter the new Crossrail tunnels and take passengers through to central London and beyond.”
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