Pontoon Dock DLR station in Silvertown set for £44m upgrade

Earlier this year, Newham Council approved Transport for London (TfL) plans to enlarge Pontoon Dock station in Silvertown.

According to a recent TfL report, it is expected that passenger demand at the station will increase by a whopping 415 per cent once 6,500 new homes in the area are built.

Currently, the DLR station can only be accessed by lifts or stairs. TfL says that this “already results in queueing”, increasing journey lengths at peak times.

• READ MORE - Flea-ridden dogs saved from 'worst case of cruelty' at hands of Canning Town pair

The station currently only has lifts and stairs (Image: TfL)

To improve the station, transport bosses have proposed building six escalators as well as a new mezzanine level.

It is hoped that this will secure step-free access to the platforms by freeing up lift space for those who cannot use stairs or escalators. New shops will also be created around the station.

Transport for London has said that the £43.9 million project represents “excellent value for money”.

Extra fare revenue is expected to reach £2.6 million a year by 2041 as a result of the changes, with the new retail spaces adding an additional annual income of £40,000.