UK: Transport for London has begun preliminary market engagement for the Docklands Light Railway’s Thamesmead Extension Programme, seeking to establish industry appetite for the project and to harness supplier expertise to help develop a suitable delivery strategy.
The extension would start on viaduct at a grade-separated junction with the existing DLR’s route to Beckton, and drop down to ground level to station in the centre of the Beckton Riverside development. It would then run in a 1·5 km twin-bore tunnel under the River Thames to a station at Thamesmead.
TfL’s initial pre-procurement strategy anticipates a multi-stage process with an early contractor involvement, and it is seeking input from suppliers with experience of delivering works of a similar scale and complexity. This includes advice and suggestions on general buildability, concept design, phasing, packaging and sequencing of works and contractual arrangements.
TfL is also seeking innovative techniques to reduce carbon and improve whole life costs.
An industry day was held on December 2 2025 and followed by a market sounding questionnaire. A further industry day is to be held on February 25. Another market sounding questionnaire is to be issued by February 27, with responses required by April 10. TfL may then hold one-to-one sessions to discuss commercial and procurement models with suppliers having the required capabilities and experience.
TfL envisages that the tender notice could be published on June 1, with the contracting entity being its 100% owned Docklands Light Railway Ltd subsidiary. The project is estimated to have a total value of £1·62bn including VAT, with works planned to commence in 2028 for completion by the end of 2033.
