The Current Pudding Mill Lane, which opened in 1996, sits across the site of one of Crossrail's tunnel portals and thus a replacement DLR station is to be constructed immediately to the south between the River Lea and City Mill River. This new station will be commissioned in 2013, at which point the old one can be removed. This will allow the construction of the 120m ramp down to the Pudding Mill Tunnel Portal, through which tunnelling to Stepney will begin spring 2014.
Ultimately, the new Crossrail lines will then run up that same ramp ahead of joining the Great Eastern Main Line on the way to Shenfield.
The design of the new DLR station has been put together by architects Weston Williamson. In London rail terms, they will likely be most familiar to people as the architects currently responsible for designs at Woolwich Crossrail station. They do, however, have more than a passing familiarity with the DLR. Back in 2008 TfL gave Weston Williamson responsibility for putting together the unified DLR design guide, which was intended to help bring more consistency to the design and fit-out of DLR stations going forward.
Assuming, therefore, that Weston Williamson have followed their own guidance, it seems likely that the final design for Pudding Mill Lane gives a certain amount of indication as to what any future DLR stations might look like as well.
Initial images and a couple of diagrams on the layout are below. You can find the full planning document on the Newham website.
Thanks to JN, AG and Diamond Geezer for the spots.
I think the bottom diagram shows something interesting, the DLR over the river Lea is single track, but the new embankment appears wide enough for two tracks up to the bridge (on the left of the diagram). Could be forward planning for doubling? (My new rail blog)
ReplyDeleteWill the station continue to be unstaffed as now, and how will it from from the current station.
ReplyDeleteIs it on the same stretch of road, i really hope they double track this section. Now rather than later.
**how far will it be.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure one of the DLR's future projects is to get rid of the single line track. It was shown on that TFL possible extensions map.
ReplyDeleteCurious that both those renders (or at least one on this site and one on the Weston Williamson site) feature DLR stock painted in the old livery, which was replaced... well, I can't remember when, but it was some years ago. 2008, maybe?
ReplyDeleteCrossrail confirmed to me before that the DLR lines to Stratford and Bow Church would still be single track, but provision would be made for dual tracks within these works.
ReplyDeleteI'm not even sure what the maximum tph on the Stratford branch is, but I don't think it's particularly impacted by the single track sections because the timing and the signalling is so good.
Will the station still be on Pudding Mill Lane?
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of pudding did Pudding Mill resemble to earn it that name?
ReplyDeleteIn a shocking (or sad) burst of trivia, I actually know the answer to that.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually named after the Pudding Mill River - which was an old tributary of the river Lea.
That had a Mill on it further up, which was indeed shaped like a Pudding (one assumes "Pudding" in the sense of the British main course rather than a dessert) - hence how the river got its name.
George should be reassured that the shortened Pudding Mill Lane (it will no longer continue under the railway) will still lead directly to the DLR station.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised that nobody has commented on the new station building. Open and uncluttered is one way of discribing what would be a wind tunnel,cold and exposed to rain. Can you imagine the amout of wind blown debris that will collect in an unmanned station. Even the homeless would most likely avoid it.
ReplyDelete"Razanfrazzah snazzenfraz - Drat" as Dick Dastardly would say - Another devious Christmas Quiz 2011 question concerning how Pudding Mill got its name hits the etherial blog dust. Is that JB, I hear, in the background going "Aff, aff, aff, aff"?
ReplyDeleteFor those too young to understand this somewhat whacky racing cultural reference I suggest you ask your Dad.
So will you still be able to walk from Pudding Mill DLR to Hackney Wick by the Greenway if they are blocking off the road outside the station.
ReplyDeleteRe Pudding Mill
ReplyDeleteThanks JB, I still don't get how a water mill can look like a pudding.
At least the new station looks like a Viennetta.
At the other end of Pudding Mill River (one of the Bow Back rivers) stood a windmill. It was called Nobshill Mill. This was replaced by a new flour mill called Knobs Hill Mill. The cottage near the mill, which survived until after the Great War was called Knobs Hill Cottage.
ReplyDeleteGuess which very famous structure now stands on the site. (Clue, it has been built on the site of the junction of Pudding Mill Lane and Knobs Hill Road E15 2PQ).
Anonymous said... "a wind tunnel,cold and exposed to rain"
ReplyDeleteYou sound like a regular Pudding Mill Lane passenger.
Why bother with this. It is the least used station in London. Just squew the two lines over and forget that there ever was a station
ReplyDeleteA-nonny-mouse
ReplyDeleteWrong and ignorant.
Fairlop & Roding Vally have less passengers, and I think one on the Greenford branch, as well.
Stop spouting rubbish.
Shame the earlier scheme with a higher, more arched roof was deemed unacceptable by Newham...
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteLooks a great design to me - modern, uncluttered and stylish - As for the number of trains per hour don't forget that this station is being built as part of the post Olympic legacy project and opens in 2013. The words West Ham Utd come to mind.
ReplyDelete