It’s certainly no secret that here at Secret London, we’re rather partial to a bit of transport talk. From trains, tubes, and taxis to buses, bikes, and boats; the capital city’s nifty network of transportation will never fail to get us yapping. And so the prospect of a shiny new station landing in London has piqued our interest, to say the least.
The new station in question would be perched on the c2c line, nestled between Dagenham Dock and Rainham, offering a direct and speedy service into London Fenchurch Street. The station would be the first to serve the new neighbourhood of Beam Park; an area that since its creation has been without a train station.
Beam Park railway station
Plans to build a Beam Park railway station have been in the pipeline since 2002, but after years decades of delay, the wheels have officially been set in motion. Last week, the housing secretary confirmed that ‘a new Beam Park rail station could be accommodated within the existing rail network’.
The station is being built as part of the ongoing redevelopment of the former industrial area. Over 1100 homes have been completed and another 1200 are currently under construction, but the addition of a station is expected to open up opportunity for a whopping 20,000 more homes to be built in Beam Park. The first residents moved into Beam Park in 2020; the same year that the Mayor of London offered £32.7 million worth of funding towards a station. But in 2021, plans were brought to a bit of a standstill when the government declined the plans.
The delays have racked up the costs a tad, as – much like everything else – construction costs have risen rather substantially over the years. Now that the station has officially been given the green light, the Greater London Authority, the London Borough of Havering, Transport for London, and other partners are working together to cover the additional costs required to make the dream of Beam Park station a reality.
A recent statement from Councillor Ray Morgon, the Leader of Havering Council, said: “We have always said that we would do all we can to ensure Beam Park Station is built. We are grateful for the support from the Ministry for Homes, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) Homes Accelerator in helping to get to this point.
“The station is much needed for Beam Park and neighbouring Dagenham, which will enable housing and business growth in this key area. It is also a key piece of infrastructure that will support the existing community in south of the borough. Without a station, the area will remain in a transport vacuum.
“Clearly, because of the delays in getting to this point, the costs have gone up due to inflation, labour and material costs. We have said that we are supporting the GLA and other partners who are looking at solutions to try and meet the gap.”