I have since noticed that there is a brief article in the March edition of Modern Railways magazine.Following an enlightening conversation today, it turns out that there are semi-advanced plans for the Docklands Light Railway to continue from Bank onto a new terminal at Charing Cross.
The new terminal would utilise the existing disussed Jubilee line platforms at Charing Cross, although new works would be required to cut the link to Green Park. This is seen as an ideal use of the platforms and infastructure which is currently sitting idle all bar a couple of empty stock turns into from Green Park each day.
From Charing Cross, the route would take the DLR along the existing over-run tunnels (after a resizing and resigalling exercise has been undertaken) towards Aldwych and would then follow Fleet Street before sweeping to the south of St Paul’s Cathederal and north of Mansion House station before finally connecting to the existing DLR network at Bank with a realigned platform.
A new interchange would be created with the City Thameslink station and there would be new life given to Aldwych station with another interchange created and the single train shuttle to Holborn reopened. It is hoped that those coming into Docklands via Thameslink and DLR will then change at City Thameslink rather than join the Northern Line to Bank. Currently the Northern Line from London Bridge up to Kings Cross along with the interchange at Bank is at near capacity at peak hours and needs dealine with soon. It is also hoped that passengers from Waterloo will consider taking the Bakerloo/Northern line to Charing Cross to connect with the DLR.
Will it happen? Well, the infastructure is partly there and the DLR extension projects are one set of projects that seem to be being complete ahead of schedule, and on budget.
Edited to correct spelling errors that people keep pointing out