The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) extension to Thamesmead is the wrong railway, at the wrong price, for all the wrong political reasons, argues James Ford

Ooops. Rachel Reeves is about to shoot herself in the foot. Again. I thought about keeping quiet about this imminent act of self-harm. Afterall, not only did Napoleon counsel that you should never interrupt an opponent when they are making a mistake (and the Chancellor is surely the opponent of every honest taxpayer nowadays), but Reeves herself has complained that she is sick of people ‘mansplaining’ how to be Chancellor to her. However, given that this is likely to be the capital’s only major transport infrastructure project over the next decade (other than the ongoing construction of the HS2 hub at Old Oak Common), it seems I would otherwise have a very long time to regret not speaking out. So, here goes: the DLR extension to Thamesmead is not the best – or most cost effective – way to boost the London economy.

Now, the DLR extension – set to be given the greenlight in the Budget later this week – is not without its merits as a project. At £1.7bn, it is a much cheaper and quicker way of unlocking the construction of

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