"but who is going to fund in the present climate.
I could be wrong ( am often ) but suspect any new station will have to wait many years. "

A fair enough question but maybe in the current climate this is precisely the sort of infrastructure project that should be funded to create a few building jobs now and prepare us for the return of the 'good' times? In terms of the actual cost - I couldn't put a figure to it of course but miniscule relative to the overall budget for transport in London.

Once the ELL extension opens and the number of trains per hour increases to ten or even twelve will there be any real alternative to a proper rebuild? I think we nearly all agree that the current facilities struggle and often fail to cope at rush hours now. Extra trains to and from Docklands won't spread the loading they will in the medium term - and possibly sooner with the Olympics - increase it.

There will be a much greater incentive for people to travel that route once there are direct services than there was with the semi impossible change at New Cross Gate. (The few times I tried that I ended up on a bus because the trains from LBG were just too crowded to board.) That will make everywhere on the line a much more attracive dormitory for Docklands workers.