Westferry DLR station

Westferry DLR station is a station on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), located on the Isle of Dogs within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It serves the local residential areas and provides a key transport link for the Canary Wharf financial district. The station is situated in Travelcard Zone 2 and is served by trains on the Bank to Lewisham and Tower Gateway to Beckton branches.

History

The station opened on 31 August 1987 as part of the initial Docklands Light Railway network, constructed to regenerate the former Port of London docklands. Its location was chosen to serve the growing residential communities on the Isle of Dogs and to connect with the London River Services pier at Westferry Circus. The area's development accelerated significantly following the establishment of the Canary Wharf estate by the Olympia & York company. In 1999, the station and the entire Docklands Light Railway network were transferred to the control of Transport for London.

Description

Westferry is an elevated station with two side platforms, typical of the original Docklands Light Railway design. The station building features a distinctive blue steel and glass canopy. It is accessed via a staircase and lift from street level at Westferry Road, providing step-free access in compliance with modern standards. The station offers views towards the River Thames and the Millwall Inner Dock. Architectural elements reflect the industrial heritage of the London Docklands while incorporating functional modern materials.

Services

The typical service pattern off-peak, as of the current timetable, is: * 12 trains per hour eastbound to Beckton * 6 trains per hour eastbound to Woolwich Arsenal * 12 trains per hour westbound to Bank * 6 trains per hour westbound to Tower Gateway All services are operated by Docklands Light Railway Bombardier Transportation B90 and B92 stock units. Services are frequent throughout the day, with reduced operations in the early morning and late evening.

Connections

The station provides interchange with several London Buses routes, including the 135, 277, D3, and N550. It is a short walk from the Westferry Circus pier, served by the London River Services Uber Boat by Thames Clippers commuter and tourist routes. The station is also within walking distance of key Canary Wharf landmarks such as One Canada Square and the Crossrail Place roof garden. Pedestrian access to the Isle of Dogs footpaths and the Thames Path national trail is available nearby.

Incidents

On 7 July 2005, following the 7 July 2005 London bombings, the entire Docklands Light Railway network, including Westferry station, was closed as a security precaution. A minor trespass incident in 2012 caused brief service suspensions on the Beckton branch. The station has also been temporarily closed during severe weather events, such as the Great Storm of 1987 which occurred shortly after its opening, and for planned engineering works associated with the London City Airport extension and network-wide Transport for London upgrade programmes.

Category:Docklands Light Railway stations Category:Railway stations in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets