An extraordinary feat of engineering on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has effectively moved a whole station without any disruption to passengers.

South Quay station closed on Friday evening and a state-of-the-art replacement opened this morning 125 metres away, after being tested over the weekend.

The station, which cost £30m, had to be rebuilt further down the line where the track is straight, so that platforms could be extended to accommodate three-carriage-long DLR trains next year.

The old station was on a curve, where platforms could not be lengthened. But clever engineering techniques by contractors Taylor Woodrow meant the replacement station was constructed without the line, or the old station, once being closed.

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Complex supporting structures were built either side of the track, allowing work to go on within a metre of the live railway line.

The move was paid for by Transport for London (TfL) and the London borough of Tower Hamlets. It is part of TfL's £1bn investment scheme for the DLR.

No disruption

DLR Chairman, Ian Brown, said: "The new South Quay station is a prime example of our ability to carry out complicated engineering work with as little disruption as possible.

"Passengers used the former station until the close of service on Friday night, and then walked into a brand new station this morning, after we'd successfully tested it over the weekend.

"It means the way will soon be clear for us to start running DLR trains which are three-carriages long, and therefore able to carry half as many passengers again as the current two-carriage vehicles."

The new station includes a full-length canopy to provide weather protection for waiting passengers and two ground level concourses.

(CD/BMcC)