Dagenham Heathway Tube station will not need to be closed because of flooding after repairs to the roof, Transport for London (TfL) has pledged.

The station had to shut for hours in late August because of floods caused by heavy rain.

Work has been taking place to fix the roof and a TfL spokesperson said: "Most of the work to repair the roof at Dagenham Heathway has been completed, with the station now watertight and no longer at risk of closure due to flooding during heavy rain.

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"The remaining work is planned to be completed as soon as possible, outside of customer hours."

The update comes as Unmesh Desai, London Assembly Member for City and East, called on the transport operator to minimise future closures for engineering works on the District line.

Mr Desai, who represents Barking and Dagenham, claimed regular closures on the line were "causing difficulties" for residents and businesses.

He raised the issue, as well as the Dagenham Heathway work, to London mayor Sadiq Khan at an assembly meeting last month.

Mr Khan said a response would be sent to Mr Desai outlining how the issues would be addressed "to encourage people to use those stations". 

TfL admitted there has been District line closures for upgrades as part of its Four Lines Modernisation scheme, aimeed at providing faster journeys and reduced waiting times on it.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Unmesh DesaiUnmesh Desai (Image: Archant)

The eastern end of the line has also seen recent closures for work on the adjacent c2c rail line, which runs between London and Essex.

Mr Desai said: “I’m calling on TfL to publicise future closures well in advance and minimise these to overnight-only if possible."

There are closures scheduled on the line on the weekend of January 7 and 8 between Whitechapel and Earl's Court; on January 14 (various parts of the line including in east London) and 15 between Becontree and Stepney Green; and between Barking and Upminster on March 18 and Becontree to Upminster on March 19.

The TfL spokesperson said weekend line closures "enable essential work to be carried out".

They added: "They are scheduled months in advance and undertaken when fewer customers will be affected. We publicise the range of alternative travel options on the TfL website, via customer emails, and using posters and announcements at stations.”

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