Plans for the extension can be traced back to 2002 and it was included in the London Plan from 2004. It had been anticipated that it could be completed and open for use by 2017. In November 2008, the Mayor of LondonBoris Johnson announced that due to financial constraints further development of the extension had been cancelled.
In 2002, the London Riverside Urban Strategy proposed an extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) from Gallions Reach over Barking Creek, through Barking Riverside, South Dagenham and on to CEME and Rainham to support housing development in the London Riverside section of the Thames Gateway.[1] The London Plan published by the Greater London Authority in 2004 and 2008 included the extension of the DLR as far as Dagenham Dock.[2][3]
In 2007, a number of route options went to public consultation, with a decision made in November. An application for a Transport and Works Act order was made during 2008.[4] A public inquiry was due to take place and the project was expected to be completed in 2017[5] at a cost of around £750m.[6]
The public enquiry was postponed, following the announcement by Mayor of LondonBoris Johnson in November 2008 that further development of the project had been cancelled.[7]
The extension to Dagenham Dock was included in the Mayor's Transport Strategy published in May 2010[8] and the London Plan published in July 2011.[9]
The Mayor's Transport Strategy published in March 2018 proposed an extension of the DLR towards Thamesmead and Barking town centre.[15] In December 2019, an extension to Thamesmead was formally proposed by TfL that would diverge from the Beckton branch at Gallions Reach and could include a station at Beckton Riverside. The London Plan published in March 2021 prioritises the Thamesmead extension.[16] In 2023, an outline business case for the extension to Thamesmead via Beckton Riverside was submitted to Government.[17]
Barking and Dagenham Council continue to have an aspiration to extend the DLR to Dagenham Dock, including it in their transport priorities for the borough in October 2021.[18] In July 2024 it was confirmed by the Deputy Mayor of London for Transport that construction of the extension to Thamesmead would not preclude a further branch into Barking and Dagenham.[19]
Proposed route and stations
The 2008 proposed route diverged from the Beckton branch at Gallions Reach station in the London Borough of Newham. It would have followed the River Thames north bank, crossing the mouth of the River Roding in a bored tunnel south of the Barking Flood Barrier. Here the route would have entered the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, following the River Thames on a viaduct before heading northwards to reach Goresbrook and Dagenham Dock.[20] It was envisaged that four new stations would be built, with additional platforms at the existing c2c station at Dagenham Dock.
The 2007 consultation noted that the DLR could be extended further from Dagenham Dock, such as north towards Dagenham Heathway or east towards Rainham.[21] The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham supported these additional extensions, provided it could be achieved without negatively impacting on existing infrastructure in the area.[22]
^"Proposals for a DLR Dagenham Dock Extension - January 2007 – Consultation Leaflet no.1"(PDF). Docklands Light Railway. January 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2022. Agreeing a solution that allows a terminus to be built at the Dagenham Dock station area or considering alternative options beyond this. The plan below shows routes that are being considered between Gallions Reach and Dagenham Dock (and potentially beyond).