Contract awarded to expand DLR depot for extra services
A contract has been awarded to increase the size of Beckton depot to store additional trains for increased services – and perhaps an extension to Thamesmead.
Beckton isn’t the only depot to see changes, with Poplar due to see housing built above the site and hopefully better link Poplar and Canary Wharf.
The Beckton expansion is part of a £100 million deal, with the first £35 million contract for extra siding space awarded to Buckingham.
A combination of new and additional trains will offer increased capacity from 2024/25. Each new train will have 10 per cent more space. In terms of new stock, manufacturer CAF are building 57 trains arriving to replace 33 existing trains and providing 14 net additions.
When complete, Lewisham will see a 65% increase in peak-time capacity and nearly 100 per cent increases from Woolwich Arsenal. A new station is also to be built on the Woolwich Arsenal branch in the middle of Thameside Wharf – which will see 5,000 homes when complete.
