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The Railways of London Docklands (Hardback)

Their History and Development

Colour Books Photographic Books Transport > London Transport Transport > Trains & Railways World History > UK & Ireland > England > London

By Jonathan Willis
Imprint: Pen & Sword Transport
Pages: 160
ISBN: 9781526790583
Published: 6th July 2022

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This book provides a comprehensive study of the planning and building of railways in London’s Docklands, reflecting on the past 180 years of railway development. It describes the creation of the enclosed working docks at the start of the 19th Century and the introduction of railways in the middle of the century. By the 1970’s the decline of the working docks led to a plethora of plans to regenerate the area, but with little agreement on what should be done. The setting up of the London Docklands Development Corporation by the former Secretary of State for the Environment Lord Heseltine was a significant landmark, expediting the Canary Wharf development. The book describes in detail the modern railway projects, created to support the subsequent growing employment and population of the area, including the Docklands Light Railway with its multiple extensions, the Jubilee Line extension and Crossrail/Elizabeth Line.

The book will appeal to a wide audience. To railway enthusiasts who wish to learn more about the why and the how such projects are approved and built and to transport and planning professionals who wish to understand more about the ups and downs of the relationship between transport and development and the decision making processes. within changing political, economic and employment scenarios. The end result has provided Docklands with a comprehensive hierarchy of quality transport services, to match anyway in the world.

As featured

Tramways & Urban Transit, Light Rail Transit Association - December 2022

"The book is well illustrated throughout with maps and photographs (the majority in colour) and comes highly recommended. If you want to know not just how Docklands’ railways came to be built but why they follow the routes they do, then this is the book for you."

Backtrack Magazine

This book will appeal to fans of urban transit systems and London’s transport network in general. Written by a former planning engineer involved with the development of the Docklands Light Railway, Jubilee Line extension and Crossrail/Elizabeth Line, each project is discussed at length, in terms of planning and construction. There’s also plenty of historical background regarding existing infrastructure and the machinations involved in regenerating London’s docklands. A foreword by former Secretary of State Lord Heseltine lends the book extra credibility.

Model Rail Magazine

"Well produced, the book is a personal and well written general overview of the planning and the bureaucracy behind the new railways of East London’s Docklands."

Railway and Canal Historical Society Journal - March 2023 issue

As featured in

Rail Express

For anyone with an interest in railways in London's Docklands, including light railways, this is a must-have book. It is a comprehensive record of the complex systems over nearly two centuries to the present-day Isle of Dogs and beyond, which has developed beyond all imaginings in the past half-century. An attractive production and a worthy addition to any transport bookshelf.

Tramway Review, no. 272 (December 2022)

"This is a highly readable account of the most significant British urban railway development of the last forty years. A recommended book."

Journal of the Friends of the National Railway Museum

This book is of great interest and one I can thoroughly recommend.

Tramway and Light Railway Society - Tramfare

"The book combines years of painstaking research with a fund of inside knowledge and can be warmly recommended."

The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society - The Railway Observer, September 2022, Volume 92, Number 1123

Review as featured in
Featured as PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Railways Illustrated

Any railway enthusiasts who are interested in the planning and building of the early railways of London's Docklands and then leading up to the development of the Docklands Light Railway and its extensions will find this book of upmost interest.
Jonathan Willis looks at the creation of the various original railways in the docks which were developed in the middle of the 19th century and gives a brief history. As a former Head of Strategy and Planning for London Transport and later Transport for London, Jonathan Willis is well able to pass on a comprehensive record of the development of the Docklands Light Railway and its extensions.

This most interesting book comes highly recommended.

Peter A. Harding - Branch Line & Light railway Publications.

About Jonathan Willis

Jonathan Willis commenced his career as an engineer with London Underground. After obtaining an MSc in transport planning he worked for the Greater London Council and on its demise for London Transport and its successor Transport for London. As Head of Strategy and Planning he was responsible for the planning and evaluation of Croydon Tramlink, four Docklands Light Railway projects, the Jubilee Line Extension and as Head of Planning, for the Crossrail/Elizabeth Line. He is now retired living in Berkshire.

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