The future of the Dockland’s Light Railway (DLR) will be in doubt unless Transport for London secures a long-term funding deal with the Government, MPs from south east London have warned.

Vicky Foxcroft, of Lewisham East, and Matthew Pennycook, of Greenwich and Woolwich, signed an open letter along with four other Labour MPs, seen by City AM, to transport secretary Grant Shapps warning that near 30-year-old trains may soon become unfit for use.

The collapse in passenger numbers during the coronavirus pandemic has decimated TfL's finances, making previous billion-pound Government bailouts in November 2020 and June 2021 vital to keep services running.

With TfL’s latest funding deal set to run out on December 11, the MPs claimed "there is a risk that the existing contracts for new trains may have to be unpicked” unless a long-term agreement is reached.

This Is Local London: Poplar DLR station (N Chadwick)Poplar DLR station (N Chadwick)

According to City AM, the letter reads: “Without the additional trains planned as part of this upgrade, new jobs and homes in east London would be at risk, particularly in parts of the Royal Docks and the Isle of Dogs, where the DLR is the main transport option,.

“It goes without saying that supporting growth in this area is absolutely critical.

"Without government funding, the DLR extension to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead is also at risk of not going ahead.”

Last week, Sadiq Khan suggested that one of the capital's 11 Tube lines be forced shut unless a new agreement is reached.

The Bakerloo and Jubilee lines are reportedly most at risk from cuts or closure, according to the Evening Standard. The Jubilee line serves North Greenwich, the only Tube station in south east London.

Speaking at the Centre for London, the Mayor said: If the Government continues to starve TfL of funding, bus services would have to be reduced by almost a fifth, and Tube services would need to be cut by nearly 10 per cent.

“In practice, this could mean more than 100 bus routes being withdrawn and less frequent Tube timetables on a number of lines and branches. TfL is even having to look at potentially closing a whole Tube line to achieve the savings it may need to make."

A spokesperson for the Government told City AM: “We have repeatedly shown our commitment to supporting London’s transport network through the pandemic, providing more than £4bn in emergency funding to Transport for London.

“We will continue to discuss any further funding requirements with TfL and the Mayor, and any support provided will focus on getting TfL back onto a sustainable financial footing in a way that is fair to taxpayers across the country.”

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