Docklands Light Railway

Colas Rail Ltd’s extension to the Docklands Light Railway network had three main objectives:

(i)         to provide a direct rail link to the airport from the City and Canary Wharf, enabling the realisation of future airport growth without adverse environmental impact

(ii)         to create a new link that will significantly improve access to the communities of Silver town and North Woolwich

(iii)        to act as a catalyst for substantial regeneration of the southern Royal Docks.

The construction of the 2.5km extension of the Docklands Light Railway from King George V Dock to Woolwich Arsenal is a combination of trough, retained cut, cut and cover tunnels and twin-bored tunnels under the Thames to carry the railway and signalling systems works.

The project includes provision of a new Woolwich Arsenal Station in the centre of Woolwich, adjacent to the existing Network Rail Station. These stations are inter-linked.

The challenging aspects of the project include:

(i)         tunnelling under the Thames

(ii)        the construction of the Station Box situated adjacent to operational railway lines, telecommunication centres, banks, markets and commercial outlets.