Following kernel seems to fix the issue (running on 18.10 with kernel installed by UKUU):
4.20.0-042000-generic #201812232030 SMP Mon Dec 24 01:32:58 UTC 2018 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux I still see one or two of these errors when hotplugging but the others are gone and the external screen works: [drm:intel_mst_pre_enable_dp [i915]] *ERROR* failed to allocate vcpi -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1752165 Title: TB16 dock freezes X on hotplug when used with external displays To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/dell-sputnik/+bug/1752165/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs