Transport for London has appointed Thames Water to conduct water utility studies (Tranche One) for the proposed extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead – the contract has an estimated value of c around one million pounds including VAT.
The water company will carry out water utility related desk top studies and non-intrusive surveys for a number of the Thamesmead Extension sites. Earliest date the contract will be signed is 15 September 2026.
Current estimated start and end contract dates are 17 September 2026 to 29 January 2027, with a possible extension option to 30 July 2027 for any further studies and surveys required for the sites. Intrusive surveys may be later instructed.
TfL is currently still developing the design and detail of the scheme and would need to obtain consent through a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) to build and operate the extension.
The proposed extension would branch off from the existing DLR line after Gallions Reach, travelling through the Beckton Riverside area on a viaduct before descending to a new ground-level station in Beckton Riverside to the south of Armada Way. From here the track would descend underground into a tunnel to cross under the River Thames to continue the journey towards Thamesmead.
The track would come out of the tunnel at Thamesmead onto a viaduct to pass over the Twin Tumps and Thamesmere before terminating at an elevated station in Thamesmead town centre on the current site of Cannon Retail Park.
According to TFL, the extension would help support the building of up to 30,000 new homes and the creation of up to 10,000 jobs in Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead Waterfront
Subject to a funding agreement with Government and the necessary TWAO approval, construction could begin by 2029 with the extension and new stations at Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead potentially opening in the early 2030s.
TfL currently think the extension it could cost around £1.5 billion (outturn costs). However, it is still confirming its proposals and the actual cost could vary subject to further design work, surveys and investigations and confirming how the extension could be built.
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