Beckton DLR Depot Level Crossing, London

Описание: Beckton DLR Depot Level Crossing, Beckton, London.

Location: 51.511270, 0.079492
Date Filmed: 06-04-2025

A rather unique crossing situated just within the Beckton Docklands Light Railway (DLR) depot in Beckton, East London. The crossing is a MCB-OC type (Manually Controlled Barriers - Operates On-Call / Request) which are quite uncommon.

The crossing remains in the lowered position with the wigwags off and not flashing under normal conditions. Whenever a vehicle enters or leaves the depot yard, a member of the security team in the security building next to the crossing will push a button to raise the barriers. Once all vehicles have crossed, the crossing will be lowered, again by the security team. During a 15 minute window, the crossing raised and lowered around 15 times.

There are several oddities about this crossing which are explained below.
Firstly, a normal crossing of this type will be used infrequently by road vehicles and pedestrians, usually spending the majority of the time lowered. This isn't the case for the depot crossing here as there is a near constant flow of vehicles into and out of the depot.

Secondly, this is the only on-request crossing where the wigwag lights start flashing when the barriers are raised. All other crossings of this type only have the wigwags flashing when the barriers are lowering.

Thirdly, although not entirely noticeable in the video, there are actually two types of crossings here. The on-request crossing with barriers and wigwags, and a footpath crossing with two Miniature Warning Lights (MWLs). This allows pedestrians to have their own route and safe access to the depot - whilst avoiding the need to raise the barriers for pedestrians as-well as vehicles who need access.

The crossings are positioned across a single track which connects two lots of sidings for DLR trains within the depot. I assume these crossings are used by occasional DLR trains which are being moved between or in-and-out of sidings, likely during the morning peak and evening peak times of the day when DLR operations begin and cease. At the time I was there, no DLR passed by.

It is worth noting I was standing on public land whilst filming this video. However, I made the decision to discreetly film on this occasion, since I was directly pointing my camera towards the security building and the depot compound. Being seen filming the site would have likely caused suspicion by the security team. This was the reason why the filming and the video was not at the usual quality I usually produce, and the fact why I only stood in one position the entire time. The security risks that can be created is probably the reason why this crossing has never been filmed before.

I hope you enjoy this video nonetheless of, in my opinion, London's most unique crossing.

Thanks For Watching!