Royal Albert DLR station

Summary

Royal Albert DLR station is a station on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in Beckton in east London. The station serves the western end of the north quay of the Royal Albert Dock, from which it takes its name. A view of the London City Airport is available.

Royal Albert Docklands Light Railway
The station in 2008
Royal Albert is located in Greater London
Royal Albert
Royal Albert
Location of Royal Albert in Greater London
LocationBeckton
Local authorityLondon Borough of Newham
Managed byDocklands Light Railway
Number of platforms2
AccessibleYes[1]
Fare zone3
DLR annual boardings and alightings
2018Decrease 1.760 million[2]
2019Increase 1.822 million[3]
2020Decrease 0.642 million[4]
2021Increase 0.798 million[5]
2022Increase 1.340 million[6]
Key dates
28 March 1994Opened
Other information
Coordinates51°30′30″N 0°02′45″E / 51.5083°N 0.0459°E / 51.5083; 0.0459
 London transport portal

The station is located on an elevated section of the DLR's Beckton branch, between Prince Regent and Beckton Park stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 3.

History edit

The station was opened on 28 March 1994. There was previously a station called Connaught Road on the Eastern Counties and Thames Junction Railway in the same area but this closed in 1940.

It was originally planned that in 2010 work would start on extending the platforms at Royal Albert to handle three-car trains, which are being introduced across the DLR. The extension would have been at the east end of the station, bringing the platforms closer to Royal Docks Road, although no new access steps were planned. The platforms have not however been extended, and although metal catwalks have been installed, these are too narrow for non-emergency use and Selective Door Operation is used instead.

2010 should have also seen Royal Albert served by a second DLR service. The existing route between Beckton and Tower Gateway would have been supplemented by a second service between Beckton and Stratford International via Canning Town using the new DLR tracks from Canning Town to Stratford International. However this extension was severely delayed and didn't open until 31 August 2011.

Services edit

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour from Royal Albert is:[7]

Additional services call at the station during the peak hours, increasing the service to up to 16 tph in each direction.

Preceding station     DLR   Following station
Prince Regent
  Docklands Light Railway   Beckton Park
towards Beckton

Design edit

During disruption, Royal Albert acts as a terminus with a shuttle between Royal Albert and Beckton. [citation needed] This is possible because there is a crossover to the west of the station.

Location edit

The station is further from the nearest houses than any other on the DLR, despite which it has a steady patronage from those living in the area of Beckton to the north. In fact the station signage is subtitled "For West Beckton". However, the access route from these houses to the station, crossing the busy Royal Albert Way on the level, is notably substandard, the only footbridge being some distance away.

Following the relocation of many London Borough of Newham council staff to the Building 1000 offices adjoining the station, usage has increased substantially during office hours.

The station serves the London Regatta Centre and Royal Docks Business Park which houses Newham Council.

London Buses routes 300 and 376 serves the station.

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Step free Tube Guide" (PDF). Transport for London. April 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2018. Transport for London. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2019. Transport for London. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2020. Transport for London. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2021. Transport for London. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2022. Transport for London. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  7. ^ "DLR train timetables". Transport for London. Retrieved 8 August 2023.

External links edit

  • Docklands Light Railway website – Royal Albert station page