New DLR station opens at Pudding Mill Lane

28 Apr 2014 04:04 PM

New station and tracks will deliver better reliability and more capacity 

The new Docklands Light Railway (DLR) Pudding Mill Lane station – now the largest on the DLR network - was today, Monday 28th April 2014, open to the public for the first time.

The station, along with ‘double-tracked’ rails that link it to the wider DLR network, will boost capacity to enable the railway to carry an extra 1,100 passengers per hour and deliver improved service reliability on the increasingly popular route between Stratford and Canary Wharf/Lewisham.

Transport for London’s DLR Director, Rory O’Neill, said:

'The new station at Pudding Mill Lane will be a great asset to commuters, local residents and to visitors to this part of the capital. With the largest capacity on the DLR network the station will provide excellent access for people travelling to new entertainment venues in the area and to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.'

The Pudding Mill Lane station project was undertaken  with Crossrail, which has moved the location of the previous station to make room for a tunnel portal for one of its new lines, as part of Europe’s largest infrastructure project.

From the end of 2018, Crossrail trains will emerge from the new tunnels at Pudding Mill Lane and join existing rail lines through northeast London to Essex. DLR passengers will be able to interchange with Crossrail, London Underground, London Overground and National Rail at Stratford station.

In a major piece of civil engineering, Crossrail’s works involved building the new Weston Williamson-designed station, as well as a tunnel portal and approach ramp.

Careful management of works was required because of the site’s close proximity to vital sewerage and power utilities, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, live National Rail and DLR lines and an entry portal for Crossrail tunnel boring machines heading towards the City.

Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail Chief Executive, said:

'The team is very proud to have delivered this new piece of infrastructure on time and within budget. This was a large and challenging project with the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, Great Eastern Mainline, DLR and several crucial London utilities all on our doorstep. It required sophisticated engineering and construction work and a great deal of communication and collaboration to get to this point. It is another great example of what can be achieved by working well together.'

ENDS

Notes for Editors: