"Dave Arquati" wrote in message
...

Crossrail will use the NLL alignment from Custom House to near North
Woolwich - so it will actually pass through Silvertown station. However
since they're it doesn't appear on any of their plans, I presume it is
scheduled for closure - especially given that it is around 7 mins' walk
from the airport whereas the DLR's new station will be right outside the
terminal building.

I'm not sure exactly why CLRL want to close Silvertown station. Could be
for engineering reasons, although the portal for their Gallions Reach
tunnel should be much further east. It might just be to speed up journey
times through an area which will be well-served by the new DLR branch,
which will eventually have trains running direct between Stratford -
Canning Town - City Airport - Woolwich Arsenal.

I asked about this at a recent Crossrail information display, and was told
that Crossrail examined the possibility of retaining Silvertown station, but
there was no business case (even on a cost benefit basis). The station is
too far from the LCY terminal for sensible interchange (DLR from Central
London, or from Woolwich Arsenal for connection from SET stations makes more
sense), it would be expensive to upgrade the station for Crossrail (lengthen
platforms, make it accessible, etc), and there was a suggestion that the
trackbed would be lowered. Crossrail will use both tracks of the Connaught
tunnel, come up to ground level, and then descend again for the Gallions
Reach tunnel.

Peter