Pontoon Dock DLR station upgrade to add six escalators

Work has begun on a long-planned upgrade at Pontoon Dock DLR station in East London, which will introduce six new escalators. The project is intended to ease pressure on the station's existing lifts, which are frequently overloaded. Construction is being managed by Morgan Sindall Infrastructure as part of a two-and-a-half-year programme.

Addressing Capacity Issues

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Pontoon Dock station, which opened in 2005, serves an area that was less populated at the time of its construction. The station's platforms are situated significantly above street level, requiring passengers to use stairs or one of two lifts. Many passengers opt for the lifts to avoid the stairs, leading to increased demand on the equipment, particularly for those who cannot use the steps.

The upgrade will involve installing two escalators between street level and an expanded mezzanine area, with a further four escalators connecting the mezzanine to the platforms. The existing stairs and lifts will remain operational. A new glazed structure will enclose the circulation space, and the plans also include retail units, operational rooms, landscaping, and an improved public square beneath the railway structure.

Accommodating Future Growth

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Transport for London (TfL) has previously projected a potential increase of about one third in passenger numbers at Pontoon Dock by 2041. This anticipated growth means that access to and from the platforms could become a more significant constraint than the capacity of the trains themselves. The new escalators are designed to accommodate this continued housing and passenger growth around the station.

Funding and Timeline

The station upgrade is financed with 75 percent from third-party contributions. These include funding from Homes England, the government's housing and regeneration agency, and the Greater London Authority (GLA). Additional contributions come from developer agreements with Lendlease and TfL's Sustainable Housing and Accessibility Fund. According to Morgan Sindall, the available funding influenced the design, leading to the retention and upgrading of existing infrastructure where feasible and simplified finishes to manage costs.

While an earlier construction schedule suggested the enlarged station might be available by October 2028, the current two-and-a-half-year delivery programme, starting from the enabling works, indicates completion is expected around spring 2029. The station upgrade plans were developed by Mott MacDonald in collaboration with Weston Williamson + Partners.