One of the highest stations on the Docklands Light Railway is to get its first escalators in a £44m upgrade to help it cope with an influx of commuters.
Pontoon Dock, on the Woolwich Arsenal branch of the DLR, will be fitted with six new escalators and a larger concourse next summer.
The station is one stop west of City Airport and the main connection to the massive Silvertown Quays redevelopment alongside the Thames in east London.
The upgrade will reduce the pressure on the existing lifts and the challenge many passengers face of having to climb dozens of stairs to reach platforms that are 40ft above ground level.
The redevelopment, which will take until the end of 2028 to complete, will also include the potential for new retail space.
Transport for London said it would aim to keep the station open for as much of the time as possible.
The announcement comes amid fresh hope of extending the DLR’s Beckton branch across the river to Thamesmead, and as temporary timetable changes begin to enable the long-delayed new fleet of 54 trains to be introduced later this year.
TfL said on Tuesday that detailed design work to upgrade Pontoon Dock was underway.
At peak times, about half of commuters rely on the lifts, which often leads to congestion and longer journey times.
It is anticipated that the redevelopment of the area will mean an additional 4,500 customers will use the station during peak times, an increase of 415 per cent.
The upgrade is being funded by Homes England - the government’s housing and regeneration agency – the Greater London Authority, Lendlease and from TfL’s sustainable housing and accessibility fund.
Morgan Sindall Infrastructure will design and build the revamped station.
Alex Williams, chief customer and strategy officer at TfL, said: “The transformation at Pontoon Dock will make life easier and more comfortable for customers, through reduced congestion and enhanced accessibility.
“It will also play a central role in supporting important regeneration in the local area, helping to unlock around 6,500 new homes and 10,000 new jobs at Silvertown Quays.”
