Three out of four escalators out of action at Woolwich Arsenal DLR station

With the subject of a second entrance – or lack of one – to Woolwich Elizabeth line set to be decided tonight as hundreds of homes in four towers look set to be approved above the eastern end of the station it’s an opportune time to look at a nearby station in the town and a possible future for the Elizabeth line in future.

Nearby Woolwich Arsenal DLR station opened in 2009 and has a total of four escalators – and three are currently out of order. The other is reported to be making “loud clanking noises”.

Four escalators at Woolwich Arsenal is actually greater provision than the three at Woolwich Elizabeth line station despite the newer station already seeing far more passengers.

Of the four at Woolwich Arsenal DLR station, two are undergoing long term maintenance according to a recent Transport for London report. The third has a separate fault.

Short term reprieve

The opening of the Elizabeth line has helped mitigate the problem at nearby Woolwich Arsenal given it’s drawn passengers from the DLR and so a solitary escalator isn’t as big a deal as it would have been three years ago but still far from ideal.

Though despite the advent of the Lizzie, it’s a very well used station. Unlike its newer cousin, the DLR station has two entrances though one facing Powis Street is regularly closed.

TfL had always forecast passenger numbers on the Woolwich DLR branch falling as recently seen then growing again as more homes are built and new trains introduced – of which the first is now running.

Still, problems at the DLR station do highlight the limited scope for future problems at the Woolwich Liz line station without a second eastern entrance/exit. One or two escalators close and they’ll be huge problems.

Housing

Ultimately in time the sheer number of new homes proposed across Woolwich as well as Thamesmead and Plumstead to the east and Charlton to the west are likely to see increases at all stations. That means failure to include passive provision in Woolwich and agreeing towers tonight above the eastern end of the station could have long lasting repercussions. If it’s struggling now, then having one or even two escalators out would result in partial closure.

Not a welcome prospect for a station busier than many across the country such as Sheffield, Newcastle, Bristol Temple Meads, Cardiff and Glasgow. In the last year Woolwich usage also continues to grow.

And as often covered on this site housing plans come in thick and fast, with more than a few currently nearing completion including two towers beside the Thames and two adjacent student housing blocks. Brookhill estate rebuild has now commenced.

There’s plenty more homes a bit further out in west Thamesmead (2,300 at two sites), Plumstead (a new college and 294 homes), west Woolwich (Morris Walk estate rebuild) and come 2029, a Bus Rapid Transit linking parts of Thamesmead to Woolwich station.

With no passive provision provided for a further Woolwich station entrance, those three escalators will need to be extremely reliable. And escalators don’t have an amazing track record at many stations of doing so.