Docklands Light Railway

Docklands Light Railway

A DLR train arrives at Royal Victoria
Overview
Owner Docklands Light Railway Ltd, part of Transport for London
Locale Greater London
Transit type Rapid transit/Light metro
Number of lines 7
Number of stations 45
Daily ridership 278,100 (daily average, FY2013)
Annual ridership 110.2 million (FY2013)[1]
Website DLR
Operation
Began operation 31 August 1987
Operator(s) KeolisAmey Docklands Ltd. Keolis (70%)/Amey (30%)
Number of vehicles 149 DLR rolling stock
Train length 2–3 carriages per trainset
Technical
System length 34 km (21 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification 750 V DC third rail
Average speed 80 km/h (50 mph)
Top speed 100 km/h (62 mph)

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is an automated light metro system opened in 1987 to serve the redeveloped Docklands area of London.[2][3] It reaches north to Stratford, south to Lewisham, west to Tower Gateway and Bank in the City of London financial district, and east to Beckton, London City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal.

The system uses minimal staffing on trains and at major interchange stations; the four below-ground stations are staffed to comply with underground station fire and safety requirements. Similar proposals have been made for the Tube.[4]

The DLR is operated under a franchise awarded by Transport for London to KeolisAmey Docklands, a joint venture between transport operator Keolis and infrastructure specialists Amey plc. It was previously run for over 17 years by Serco Docklands,[5] part of the Serco Group.[6][7] The system is owned by Docklands Light Railway Ltd,[8] part of the London Rail division of Transport for London. In Fiscal Year 2014, the DLR carried 110.2 million passengers.[1] It has been extended several times and further extensions are under consideration.

History

Origins and development

Tower Gateway station was the DLR's original link to central London.

The docks immediately east of Central London began to decline in the early 1960s as cargo became containerised.[9] They had been connected to the national railway network via the London and Blackwall Railway (L&BR), which was closed in 1966 for lack of traffic.[10] The opening of the Tilbury container docks, further east in Essex, finally rendered them redundant, and in 1980 the government gained control of the now-derelict area.

As early as 1972, consideration was given to how to redevelop the moribund Docklands. Travis Morgan & Partners were commissioned by the London Docklands Study Team to consider the issue. They proposed, among other recommendations, that a "minitram" people-mover system capable of carrying up to 20 people in each unit should be constructed to connect the Docklands with the planned Fleet line tube railway terminus at Fenchurch Street railway station. The Greater London Council formed a Docklands Joint Committee with the Boroughs of Greenwich, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets in 1974 to undertake the redevelopment of the area. A light railway systems was envisaged, terminating either at Tower Hill tube station or at Fenchurch Street, but both options were seen as too expensive. Nonetheless, in 1976 another report proposed a conventional tube railway for the area and London Transport obtained Parliamentary powers to build a line from Charing Cross railway station to Fenchurch Street, Surrey Docks (now Surrey Quays railway station), the Isle of Dogs, North Greenwich and Custom House to Woolwich Arsenal. This was intended to be the second stage of the Fleet line – which had been renamed the Jubilee line, the first stage of which opened in 1979 from Stanmore to Charing Cross. However, when the Conservative Party came to power in May 1979 under Margaret Thatcher, the plans to extend the Jubilee line were halted and the new government insisted that a lower-cost option should be pursued.[11]

The government created the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) in July 1981 to coordinate the redevelopment of the Docklands. The need to provide a cheap public transport solution led to it commissioning London Transport to evaluate a number of exclusively light rail options. The core of the route ran alongside the Great Eastern line out of London and south along the former London & Blackwall Railway line through the Isle of Dogs. Three terminus options were proposed at the west end, at Tower Hill, Minories and Aldgate East. The Tower Hill option would have required a low-level interchange to be constructed alongside the existing Underground station, but this would have been a very costly venture. The Minories option, a high-level station virtually on the site of the old Minories railway station, was selected and became the current Tower Gateway DLR terminus.[11] Aldgate East would have been perhaps the most ambitious of all of the options, as it originally envisaged a low-level connection with the District line that would have allowed DLR trains to run on Underground tracks to a variety of central London destinations. However, it quickly became apparent that there was no capacity on the existing network for integrating the DLR into the Underground.[12]

Two southern terminus options were put forward, at Cubitt Town (today's Island Gardens station) and Tiller Road, on the west side of Millwall Dock, with two possible routes to reach them. A "western" route would have run from the Westferry station alongside West Ferry Road via Cuba Street, then either terminating at Tiller Road or continuing over Millwall Docks Cut to a terminus at Cubitt Town. The "central" option required the West India Docks to be infilled or bridged and would run down the middle of the peninsula, through what was at the time an area of derelict warehouses.[12] Ultimately this latter option was chosen, though the 1981 London Transport report warned that without extensive development around Canary Wharf the area would be "very isolated with poor traffic prospects" – as indeed it was, for a number of years.[13]

The contract for the initial system was awarded to GEC Mowlem in 1984[14] and the system was constructed from 1985 to 1987 at a cost of £77 million.[15] The line was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 30 July 1987, and passenger services began on 31 August.[14]

Initial system (1987–1990)

A first generation DLR EMU crosses West India Dock, September 1987.

The initial system comprised two routes, from Tower Gateway and Stratford to Island Gardens. Most was elevated on disused railway viaducts or new concrete viaducts, with use of disused surface railway formation between Poplar and Stratford. The trains were fully automated, controlled by computer, and had no driver; a Passenger Service Agent (PSA) on each train, originally referred to as a "Train Captain", was responsible for patrolling the train, checking tickets, making announcements and controlling the doors. PSAs could take control of the train in circumstances including equipment failure and emergencies.[16][17] A total of eleven EMUs supplied by Linke-Hofmann-Busche comprised the first generation of the Docklands Light Railway rolling stock.[18]

The system was lightweight, with stations designed for trains of only a single articulated vehicle. The three branches totalled 8 miles (13 km), had 15 stations, and were connected by a flat triangular junction near Poplar. Services ran from Tower Gateway to Island Gardens and from Stratford to Island Gardens; the north side of the junction was used only for access to the depot at Poplar.[2][14][19] The stations were mostly of a common design and constructed from standard components. A common feature was a short half-cylindrical glazed blue canopy. All stations were above ground and were generally unstaffed, although later extension included stations below ground which were required by law to be staffed in case of evacuation.

First stage extensions (1991–1994)

The view from Tower Gateway looking east prior to rebuilding shows Fenchurch Street approach tracks to the left and the DLR line in the centre. Just visible in the distance is a DLR train that has emerged from the tunnel to Bank to the right.

The initial system had a relatively low capacity, but the Docklands area very quickly developed into a major financial centre and employment zone, increasing traffic. In particular Tower Gateway, at the edge of the City of London, attracted criticism for its poor connections, as it did not connect directly with the nearby Tower Hill tube station or Fenchurch Street railway station. The criticism arose partly because the system usage was higher than expected.[20] Plans were developed, before the system opened, to extend it to Bank in the west and Beckton in the east.[21] Stations and trains were extended to two-unit length, and the system was expanded into the heart of the City of London to Bank through a tunnel, which opened in 1991.[22] This extension left Tower Gateway on a stub. The original trains were not suitable for use underground due to a lack of fire-proofing.[18] They were operated for a time on the above-ground sections only, and were later sold.

As the Canary Wharf office complex grew, Canary Wharf DLR station was redeveloped from a small wayside station to a large one with six platforms serving three tracks and a large overall roof, fully integrated into the malls below the office towers.[23]

The east of Docklands needed better transport connections to encourage development, and a fourth branch, towards Beckton, was planned, with several route options available.[24] A route from Poplar via Canning Town and the north side of the Royal Docks complex was chosen, and opened in 1994.[14] Initially it was thought the line was likely to be underutilised, due to the sparse development in the area.[25] As part of this extension, one side of the original flat triangular junction was replaced by a grade-separated junction west of Poplar. Poplar was rebuilt to give cross-platform interchange between the Stratford and Beckton lines, with a new grade-separated junction built east of the station at the divergence of the Stratford and Beckton lines.

Second stage extensions (1996–1999)

DLR platforms at Greenwich, a northbound train approaching; view from southbound platform

Early on, Lewisham London Borough Council commissioned a feasibility study into extending the system under the River Thames. This led the council to advocate an extension via Greenwich and Deptford, terminating at Lewisham railway station.[26] The ambitions of the operators were supported by politicians in Parliament, including the future Labour Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, and Lord Whitty; and by 1996 construction work had begun.[23][27][28]

The Lewisham extension opened on 3 December 1999.[29] It left the Island Gardens route south of the Crossharbour turn-back sidings, and dropped gently to Mudchute, where a street-level station replaced the high-level one on the former London & Blackwall Railway viaduct. The line then entered a tunnel, following the route of the viaduct to a shallow subsurface station at Island Gardens, accessible by stairs or a lift. It crossed under the Thames to Cutty Sark in the centre of Greenwich, and surfaced at Greenwich railway station, with cross-platform interchange between the northbound track and the London-bound main line. The line snaked on a concrete viaduct to Deptford Bridge, before descending to Elverson Road at street level, close to Lewisham town centre, terminating in two platforms between and below the main-line platforms at Lewisham railway station, with buses stopping outside the station. The extension quickly proved profitable.[30]

Third stage extensions and enhancements (2004–2009)

Route of Woolwich Arsenal extension.

The next developments were aided by a five-year programme of investment for public transport across London that was unveiled by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone on 12 October 2004.[31] On 2 December 2005, an eastward branch along the approximate route of the former Eastern Counties and Thames Junction Railway on the southern side of the Royal Docks complex opened from Canning Town to King George V via London City Airport.[32]

A further extension from King George V to Woolwich Arsenal opened on 10 January 2009, providing interchange with the North Kent main line, close to the planned future stop on the Crossrail line to Abbey Wood via West India and Royal Docks,[2] met by Private Finance Initiative funding.[33] Construction began in June 2005, the same month that the contracts were finalised,[34] and the tunnels were completed on 23 July 2007,[35] and formally opened by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London on 12 January 2009.[36] Following completion, the project was shortlisted for the 2009 Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award.[37]

The original Tower Gateway station was closed in mid-2008 for complete reconstruction. The two terminal tracks either side of a narrow island platform were replaced by a single track between two platforms, one for arriving passengers and the other for departing (Spanish solution). It reopened on 2 March 2009.[38][39]

As part of an upgrade to allow three-car trains, strengthening work was necessary at the Delta Junction north of West India Quay.[40] It was decided to include this in a plan for further grade separation to eliminate the conflict between services to Stratford and from Bank. A new timetable was introduced, with improved frequencies at peak hours. The new grade-separated route from Bank to Canary Wharf is used throughout the day, bypassing West India Quay station until mid-evening.[41] Work on this project proceeded concurrently with the three-car upgrade work and the 'flyunder', and the improved timetable came into use on 24 August 2009.[42]

Stratford International to Canning Town extension (2011)

The Stratford International DLR forecourt, soon after opening in 2011

In addition to the three-car station extensions, part of which was funded from the 2012 Olympics budget, a line was opened from Canning Town to Stratford and Stratford International along the former North London Line of the national rail system, with additional stations. It parallels the London Underground Jubilee line for much of its length. A substantial multi-level flying junction was built south of Canning Town to enable trains from Bank/Poplar and Stratford International to operate to either of the eastern termini at Beckton and Woolwich Arsenal. There are through trains between all these points, with different patterns at different times of the day. The extension suffered some delay in opening, being completed in August 2011. It provides a direct link between two of the major Olympics locations: the Stadium and Park at Stratford and the ExCeL adjacent to Custom House on the Beckton line.

Current system

Shadwell, with train entering the station

The DLR is 25 miles (40 km) long, with 45 stations.[43] There are six branches: to Lewisham in the south, Stratford and Stratford International in the north, Beckton and Woolwich Arsenal in the east, and Central London in the west, splitting to Bank and Tower Gateway.[44] Although the layout allows many different routes, the seven following are operated in normal service:[45]

There is capability for an additional shuttle from Canning Town to Prince Regent when exhibitions are in progress at the ExCeL exhibition centre.

At terminal stations trains reverse direction in the platforms except at Bank where there is a reversing headshunt beyond the station. Many peak-hour trains on the Lewisham route from Stratford turn back at Canary Wharf. During service disruption or planned engineering work, trains can also turn back at Crossharbour and Mudchute. Trains serve every station on the route, but before mid-evening trains from Bank to Lewisham do not call at West India Quay because they are routed along the flyunder track to avoid junction conflicts. During long-term works for extension projects, other routes may be operated at weekends, such as Beckton to Lewisham if the Bank branch is closed.

The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (foreground), operated by c2c, runs alongside the DLR (behind the fence) from Limehouse to Tower Gateway.

The northern, southern and south-eastern branches terminate at the National Rail stations at Stratford, Stratford International, Lewisham and Woolwich Arsenal. Other interchanges with National Rail are at Limehouse, Greenwich and West Ham, while out of station interchanges for Oyster card holders exist between Shadwell DLR station and London Overground's station of the same name, and between Fenchurch Street and the DLR's western termini Tower Gateway and Bank.[46]

Between Limehouse and Tower Gateway, the DLR runs parallel to the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway.

Stations

An eastbound train leaving Westferry Station.

Most stations are elevated, with others at street level, in cutting or underground. Access to the platforms is mostly by staircase and lift, with escalators at some stations. From the outset the system has been fully accessible to wheelchairs; much attention was paid to quick and effective accessibility for all passengers.[47] The stations have high platforms matching the floor height of the cars, allowing level access for passengers with wheelchairs or pushchairs.

Most stations are of a modular design dating back to the initial system, extended and improved with two side platforms, each with separate access from the street, and platform canopies, although few examples remain of the original, distinctive rounded roof design. Stations are unstaffed, except the underground stations at Bank, Island Gardens, Cutty Sark and Woolwich Arsenal for safety reasons, a few of the busier interchange stations, and City Airport, which has a ticket office for passengers unfamiliar with the system. Canning Town, Custom House and Prince Regent are normally staffed on the platform whenever there is a significant exhibition at the ExCeL exhibition centre.

On 3 July 2007, DLR officially launched[48] an art programme called DLR Art,[49] similar to that on the London Underground, Art on the Underground. Alan Williams was appointed to produce the first temporary commission, called "Sidetrack", which portrays the ordinary and extraordinary sights, often unfamiliar to passengers, on the system and was displayed throughout the network.[50]

Fares and ticketing

A train awaits departure from Woolwich Arsenal.

The system is part of the London fare zone system, and Travelcards that cover the appropriate zones are valid. There are one-day and season DLR-only "Rover" tickets, plus a one-day DLR "Rail and River Rover" ticket for the DLR and City Cruises river boats. Oyster pay-as-you-go is also available;[51] or NFC enabled bank card holders (contactless) passengers need to touch both in and out on the platform readers or pass through the automatic gates. Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines at the entrance to the platforms, and are required before entering the platform. There are no ticket barriers at DLR-only stations,[52] and correct ticketing is enforced by random on-train inspections by the PSA. Passengers without a correct ticket, pay-as-you-go Oyster users or a contactless bank card who have failed to touch in at the start of the journey may be liable to a £80 penalty fare or prosecution for fare evasion. There are barriers at Bank, Canning Town, Woolwich Arsenal, West Ham and Stratford, where the DLR platforms are within a London Underground or National Rail barrier line.

Performance

Within a year of launch, annual passenger numbers were 17 million.[53] This increased to 64 million in 2009,[53][54] to more than 80 million in 2011,[55] and most recently to 110.2 million annual passengers in Fiscal Year 2014.[1] While the first five years were plagued by unreliability and operational problems,[56] the system has now become highly reliable.[56] In 2008, 87% of the population of North Woolwich were in favour of the DLR.[57]

The Parliamentary Transport Select Committee has reviewed light rail.[58] Due to the success of the DLR, proposals for similar systems elsewhere have emerged. The North and West London Light Railway is a plan for an orbital railway serving the other side of London.[59]

The DLR has been successful, as have other recent light rail systems.[60] However, the DLR has been criticised for having been designed with insufficient capacity to meet the demand that quickly arose.[26] The level of demand was underestimated.[20][23] In 1989 such criticism was aimed at GEC, a major contractor for construction.

Until 1 July 2013, the only bicycles that were allowed were folding ones.[61] DLR stated that this is because if evacuation is required, they would slow down the process. DLR cars, especially older rolling stock, were not designed with bicycles in mind – if they were allowed, they might obstruct doors and emergency exits.[62] One incident in 2007 involved a station manager refusing to allow a train to leave before several triathlon competitors left. On 1 July 2013, DLR embarked on a trial of allowing all cyclists to use the trains outside of weekday commuter peak hours, except at Bank station. As of January 2014, the trial was made permanent, and full-size bicycles are now carried on DLR at off-peak hours and weekends (except Bank Station)[63]

Rolling stock

A B2007 rolling stock at Poplar DLR station

The DLR is operated by 145[64] high-floor bi-directional single-articulated Electric Multiple Units (EMUs). Each car has four doors on each side, and two or three cars make up a train.[2] There are no cabs because normal operations are automated, and a small driver's console is concealed behind a locked panel at each end, from which the PSA can drive the car.[65] Consoles at each door opening allow the PSA to control door closure and make announcements whilst patrolling the train. With the absence of a driver's position, the fully glazed car ends provide a forward and rear view for passengers. The top speed is 62 miles per hour (100 km/h).

Despite having high floors and being automated, the cars are derived from a German light-rail design intended for street running. All cars look similar but there have been several different types, some still in service, others sold to other operators. B2007 units were purchased from Bombardier in 2005 and delivered between 2007 and 2010.[66]

Depots

There are operating and maintenance depots at Poplar, now secondary to the larger site at Beckton, built on the site of the Beckton Gas Works in 1996 and accessed via a spur at Gallions Reach.[67] Rolling stock is kept at both locations, which have maintenance workshops and extensive open-air carriage sidings. The Poplar depot, which is also the operating headquarters of Docklands Light Railway Ltd, KeolisAmey Docklands Ltd and the Emirates Air-Line cable car, houses diesel locomotives used for track maintenance. Poplar depot is alongside the north side of the Stratford line east of the station, and Beckton depot is to the east of the line on a long spur north-east of Gallions Reach.

One of the diesel locos stabled at Poplar is 1979 GEC Traction 0-4-0, one of three built for Shotton Steelworks. Since they were used at the steelworks, one has been scrapped, one has recently been acquired by the Yorkshire Wolds Railway and the third is now at Poplar named "Kevin Keaney". Its original nickname was "Sooty" because of the amount of exhaust this old engine produced.

Signalling technology

Originally the DLR used signalling based on a fixed-block technology developed by GEC-General Signal and General Railway Signal. This was replaced in 1994 with a moving-block TBTC (Transmission Based Train Control) system developed by Alcatel, called SelTrac.[68] The SelTrac system was bought by Thales in 2007 and updates are provided by Thales Rail Signalling Solutions. The same technology is used by rapid transit systems including Vancouver's SkyTrain, Toronto's SRT, San Francisco's Municipal Railway (MUNI) and Hong Kong's MTR. The SelTrac S40 system has also been adopted by the London Underground Jubilee line and Northern line. Transmissions occur via an inductive loop cable between each train's Vehicle On-Board Controller (VOBC) and the control centre (VCC, SMC) at Beckton. If this link is broken and communication is lost between the VOBC and VCC, SMC, the train stops until it is authorised to move again. If the whole system fails the train can run in restricted manual at 12 miles per hour (19 km/h) for safety until the system is restored and communication is re-established. Emergency brakes can be applied if the train breaks the speed limit during manual control or overshoots a fixed stopping point, or if it leaves the station when the route has not been set.[2]

Recent developments

With the development of the eastern Docklands as part of the Thames Gateway initiative and London’s staging of the 2012 Summer Olympics, several extensions and enhancements have recently been undertaken.[69]

Upgrading entire system to three-car trains

Cutty Sark station, southbound platform 1 looking south

Capacity has been increased by upgrading for three-car trains. The alternative of more frequent trains was rejected as the signalling changes needed would have cost no less than upgrading to longer trains and with fewer benefits.[70] The railway was built for single-car operation, and the upgrade required both strengthening viaducts to take heavier trains and lengthening many pre-extension platforms[71] which were not originally built to take three-car trains. The extra capacity was useful for the 2012 Summer Olympics, which increased the use of London's transport network.[72] The main contractor for the expansion and alteration works was Taylor Woodrow.[73]

Elverson Road, Royal Albert, Gallions Reach and Cutty Sark have not been extended for three-car trains; such extension may be impossible in some cases. Selective door operation is used, with emergency walkways in case a door fails to remain shut. Cutty Sark station is underground, and both costs and the risk to nearby historic buildings prevent platform extension. The tunnel has an emergency walkway. Additional work beyond that needed to take the three-car trains was also carried out at some stations. This included replacing canopies with more substantial ones along the full platform length. A new South Quay station has been built 200 metres (660 ft) east of the former location as nearby curves precluded lengthening. Mudchute now has a third platform and all its platforms have full-length canopies.[74] was closed until March 2009 and re-opened as a single-track three-car terminus with two platforms, one for boarding and the other for alighting.

For this upgrade DLR purchased an additional 31 cars compatible with existing rolling stock.[75] The works were originally planned as three phases: Bank-Lewisham, Poplar-Stratford, and the Beckton branch. The original £200m contract was awarded on 3 May 2007.[76] Work started in 2007 and Bank-Lewisham was originally due to be completed in 2009. However, the work programme for the first two phases was merged and the infrastructure work was completed by the end of January 2010. The Lewisham-Bank route now runs three-car trains exclusively. They started running on the Beckton branch on 9 May 2011.[77] Stratford to Lewisham and Bank to Woolwich Arsenal services now operate as three-car trains; other routes will run the longer trains when demand requires it.

Stratford International extension

Abbey Road under construction in April 2010.
Stratford station in December 2009, showing the new DLR line and platforms under construction, formerly the North London Line platforms

The extension to Stratford International, taking over the North London Line from Canning Town to Stratford, links the Docklands area with domestic high-speed services on High Speed 1. It was an important part of transport improvements for the 2012 Olympic Games, much of which were held on a site adjoining Stratford International.[78] The first contract for construction work was awarded on 10 January 2007[79] and construction started in mid-2007. Originally scheduled to open in mid-2010,[80] the line opened on 31 August 2011.[81] On 11 November 2015 the Mayor of London announced that all stations on this line will be rezoned from zone 3 to zone 2/3.[82]

Station names in bold are former North London Line stations.

New stations are:

From Canning Town to Stratford the extension runs parallel to the Jubilee line of the London Underground. As well as providing interchange with the adjacent Jubilee line stations, there are additional DLR stations at Star Lane, Abbey Road and Stratford High Street.

At Stratford new platforms have been built for the North London Line at the northern end of the station. The old platforms (formerly 1 and 2) adjacent to the Jubilee line have been rebuilt for the DLR, renumbered 16 (towards Stratford International) and 17 (towards Beckton/Woolwich Arsenal). Interchange between the Stratford International branch and DLR trains via Poplar is possible although the platforms are widely separated and at different levels. There is no physical connection between the two branches. As part of the Transport & Works Act (TWA) application, Royal Victoria on the Beckton branch has been be extended to accommodate three-car trains, with a siding to enable trains to reverse there, using land released by the closure of the parallel North London Line. A partly grade-separated junction has been built south of Canning Town to prevent conflicting movements between the Bank branch and the Stratford International branch to and from the Beckton and Woolwich Arsenal branches.

Relocation of Pudding Mill Lane station

The resited Pudding Mill Lane station features new, wider platforms

One of the tunnel portals for Crossrail is on the original site of Pudding Mill Lane station. As a consequence, work was carried out to divert the DLR between City Mill River and the River Lea on to a new viaduct further south. This included a replacement station, which opened on 28 April 2014.[83][84] The former station stood on the only significant section of single track on the system, between Bow Church and Stratford,[85] though the opportunity will be taken to double the track in three stages, to improve capacity. There was originally no provision for works beyond the realigned section in the Crossrail Act.

Proposed developments

Dagenham Dock extension

Dagenham Dock railway station has been proposed as the new terminus of the extension
Status – Not currently being developed

This proposed extension from Gallions Reach to Dagenham Dock via the riverside at Barking would connect the Barking Reach area, a formerly industrial area now due to be a major redevelopment as part of the London Riverside, with Docklands.[86] It would cover major developments at Creekmouth, Barking Riverside, Dagenham Dock Opportunity Area, and five stations are planned, at Beckton Riverside, Creekmouth, Barking Riverside, Goresbrook (formerly Dagenham Vale) and Dagenham Dock. The extension is key if English Partnerships' plan is to work. As shown in DLR's first consultation leaflet,[87] there are proposals to extend further, possibly to Dagenham Heathway or Rainham, or even to the other side of the Thames, including one or two new stations at Thamesmead, and then on to Abbey Wood, for North Kent Line services to Dartford and The Medway Towns, as well as Crossrail connections.[88]

Construction was not expected to start until 2013, and the earliest expected completion date was 2017.[89] However, the financial downturn meant that TfL requested a delay to the public enquiry while funding was clarified.[90] Given that the purpose of the extension was to serve as-yet unbuilt homes, it became very difficult to predict timescales for this project. The project has been reported to have been cancelled by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson as a cost-cutting measure,[91][92] although there have been calls for this to be reconsidered,[93][94] the extension being regarded by Barking and Dagenham council as essential to regenerating the area.[95]

In October 2009, the plan had seemed to be once again under consideration. The Mayor's Transport Strategy stated that the Mayor, through Transport for London, would investigate the feasibility of the extension to Dagenham Dock as part of the housing proposals for Barking Riverside.[96]

Thames Wharf station

Status – On hold

Thames Wharf has been the planned name for two separate DLR stations. In 1994 the proposed location was between Canning Town and Royal Victoria.[97] Subsequently the name was transferred to a potential future development on the London City Airport extension between Canning Town and West Silvertown, due west of the western end of Royal Victoria Dock. Since the station's intended purpose is to serve the surrounding area (currently a mix of brownfield and run-down industrial sites) when it is regenerated, the development is indefinitely on hold due to the area being safeguarded for the Silvertown Tunnel,[98] a new Thames river crossing that has been proposed but currently has no timetable for implementation.

Connaught Road/Silvertown Interchange station

Status – Proposed

A site near to London City Airport has been identified as a possible additional station on the London City Airport branch. The Connaught Tunnel is here, and will be used again when some of the former Custom House to North Woolwich section of the Eastern Counties and Thames Junction Railway is taken over by Crossrail.[99] However, no plans have emerged as to if or when a station might be built here, even though the original extension was designed to allow this. It may be located south of the Connaught Crossing.[100]

Victoria/Charing Cross extensions

Docklands Light Railway flag box
Status – Proposed – 2006

In February 2006 a proposal to extend the DLR to Charing Cross station from Bank DLR branch was revealed.[85] The idea, originating from a DLR "Horizon Study",[101] is at a very early stage at the moment, but would involve extending the line from Bank in bored tunnels under Central London to the Charing Cross Jubilee line platforms, which would be brought back to public use. These platforms are now on a spur off the current Jubilee line and are not used by passenger trains. It has since been revealed that a proposed route as far as Victoria will be investigated.[102]

While not confirmed, it is probable that the Charing Cross scheme would use the overrun tunnels between Charing Cross Jubilee platforms and slightly west of Aldwych. These tunnels were intended to be incorporated into the abandoned Phase 2 of the Fleet Line (Phase 1 became the original Jubilee line, prior to the Jubilee line Extension).[103] However they would need enlargement because DLR gauge is larger than tube gauge and current safety regulations would require an emergency walkway in the tunnel.

Two reasons driving the proposal are capacity problems at Bank, having just one interchange between the DLR and the central portion of Underground, and the difficult journeys faced by passengers from Kent and South Coast between their rail termini and the DLR. Intermediate stations would be at City Thameslink/Ludgate Circus and Aldwych, which was intended for future connection with the proposed but now abandoned Cross River Tram.

Euston/St Pancras extension

Status – Proposed

In 2011, strategy documents proposed a DLR extension to Euston and St Pancras.[104] Transport for London have considered driving a line from City Thameslink via Holborn north to the rail termini.[105] The main benefit of such an extension would be to broaden the available direct transport links to the Canary Wharf site. It would create a new artery in central London and help relieve the Northern and Circle lines and provide another metro line to serve the High Speed line into Euston.

Lewisham to Catford/Lewisham to Beckenham Junction extension

Status – Proposed – 2006

This possible extension was considered during the latest Horizon Study. The route would follow the Southeastern line and terminate between Catford and Catford Bridge stations. It has been seen as attractive to the district, as has the current terminus at Lewisham, built in an earlier extension.[106][107] A map published in 2010 by Transport for London suggests that a further extension from Catford to Forest Hill has also been considered.[105]

However, early plans showed problems due to Lewisham station being only marginally lower than the busy A20 road, which impedes any extension. The plan is however being revised.[108] When the Lewisham extension was first completed there were proposals to continue further to Beckenham to link it up with the Tramlink system. However, the way in which Lewisham station was built impedes this possible extension and it would prove costly to redevelop.

Lewisham to Bromley North extension

Status – Proposed – 2012
Proposals for the DLR to take over the Bromley North Line (blue line) is one of a number of proposals for Transport for London to run the Line by extending existing networks.

Another proposal is to Bromley North by taking over the Bromley North Line, a short National Rail branch line which has no direct services to London. The scheme being considered by Transport for London[109] and the London Borough of Bromley[110] would convert the branch line to DLR operation. Although Lewisham Council planned to re-route the A20 road and redevelop the area south of Lewisham DLR station, the plans published in 2012 have no safeguarded route for an extension, making one unlikely.[111][112]

Gallions Reach Crossing

Status – Proposed

The proposed Gallions Reach Crossing has been suggested by TfL as allowing a branch to leave the existing DLR network at Gallions Reach, and cross the river on the proposed tunnel/bridge and into Thamesmead. The new branch could then pass through Thamesmead and towards Abbey Wood, Woolwich, or northwards towards Barking.[113]

Accidents and incidents

Overrun of station buffers

The original Island Gardens DLR station at the end of a viaduct

On 10 March 1987, before the system opened, a test train crashed through buffer stops at the original high-level Island Gardens terminus and was left hanging from the end of the elevated track. The accident was caused by unauthorised tests being run before accident-preventing modifications had been installed. The train was being driven manually at the time.[114][115][116]

Collision at West India Quay bridge

On 22 April 1991, two trains collided at a junction on the West India Quay bridge during morning rush hour, requiring a shutdown of the system and evacuation of passengers by ladder.[117][118] One train was travelling automatically, while the other was under manual control.[119]

South Quay bombing

On 9 February 1996, the Provisional Irish Republican Army blew up a lorry under a bridge near South Quay,[120] killing two people and injuring many others.[121] The blast caused £85 million of damage and marked an end to the IRA ceasefire. Significant disruption was caused and a train was stranded at Island Gardens, unable to move until the track was rebuilt.

Management

DLR was a wholly owned subsidiary of London Regional Transport until 1992 when it was transferred to the London Docklands Development Corporation.

The infrastructure is owned by Docklands Light Railway Ltd,[8] part of the London Rail division of Transport for London, which also manages London Overground, London Tramlink, Emirates Air-Line Cable Car and Crossrail. The first franchise was awarded to Serco Docklands Limited[122] for seven years; operations began in April 1997.[123] A management buyout backed by Serco management later sold its shares to Serco. A two-year extension was granted in 2002.

In February 2005 Transport for London announced that Balfour Beatty/Keolis, First Carillion, RATP/Transdev and Serco had been shortlisted to operate the franchise. [124]

In November 2005 Transport for London announced that Serco had retained the franchise for seven years from May 2006.[125][126]

The Lewisham, City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal extensions were designed, financed, built and maintained by private companies (concessionnaires): City Greenwich Lewisham (CGL) Rail, City Airport Rail Enterprises (CARE), and Woolwich Arsenal Rail Enterprises (WARE).[127] In 2011, Transport Trading Limited (a subsidiary of Transport for London)[128] bought out the companies responsible for the City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal extensions, leaving only the Lewisham extension under private ownership.[129]

In January 2013 Serco's contract was extended until September 2014.[130] In July 2012 Transport for London called for expressions of interest in bidding for the next DLR franchise,[131]

In April 2013 Transport for London announced that Go-Ahead/Colas Rail, Keolis/Amey, Serco and Stagecoach had been shortlisted to bid for the next franchise.[132] However, on 30 August, just over a week before the bid submission date of 9 September 2013, Go-Ahead/Colas Rail pulled out of the running.[133] The franchise was awarded to Keolis/Amey with a handover date of 7 December 2014.[134]

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 "Light Rail and Tram Statistics: England 2014/2015" (pdf). Department for Transport. 9 June 2014. p. 2. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Docklands Light Railway Capacity Upgrading, United Kingdom". Railway-Technology.com. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Cross, David (1 September 1987). "Enthusiasts flock to busy opening day: Docklands Light Railway". The Times (London).
  4. ↑ Chapman, James (14 January 2011). "Boris Johnson: I'll use driverless Tube trains to break strikes". Daily Mail (London).
  5. ↑ http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/00242246
  6. ↑ http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/dlr/1532.aspx#page-link-agreement-with-serco
  7. ↑ Serco Limited Annual Accounts 31 December 2011
  8. 1 2 http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/02052677
  9. ↑ "The closure of the docks: The end of the upstream docks". Barking & Dagenham Council. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  10. ↑ Christopher, John (30 September 2013). The London & Blackwall Railway. Amberley Publishing Limited. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-4456-2187-6.
  11. 1 2 Pearce, Alan; Hardy, Brian; Stannard, Colin (November 2000). Docklands Light Railway Official Handbook. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport Publishing. p. 4-5. ISBN 185414-223-2.
  12. 1 2 Pearce, Hardy & Stannard, Docklands Light Railway Official Handbook (2000), p. 6
  13. ↑ Pearce, Hardy & Stannard, Docklands Light Railway Official Handbook (2000), p. 7
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Docklands Light Railway (D.L.R.)". Exploring 20th Century London. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  15. ↑ Ford, Roger. "Opening of the Docklands Light Railway". Modern Railways (London). September 1987.
  16. ↑ "Technology: Signalling & Control". Transport for London. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  17. ↑ "The Docklands Light Railway, London, UK". BBC – h2g2. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  18. 1 2 McCarthy, Colin; McCarthy, David (2009). Railways of Britain – London North of the Thames. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-7110-3346-7.
  19. ↑ "Mayor of London – Transport Strategy – DLR". Greater London Authority. c. 2006. Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  20. 1 2 "New Games transport link marks 20 years of progress". London 2012 Official Blog. 13 January 2009. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  21. ↑ "Hansard Written Answers". UK Parliament. 6 May 1987.
  22. ↑ "Ben Roskrow reports on Nuttal's extension of the Docklands Light Railway". Construction News. 16 February 1990. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  23. 1 2 3 "DLR history timeline". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
  24. ↑ "Options for the DLR Beckton Extension route". London Docklands Development Corporation. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  25. ↑ Widdicombe, Gillian (30 March 1994). "Architecture: A driverless train, a blighted destination". The Independent (London). Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  26. 1 2 Wolmar, Christian (25 January 1995). "Crucial links hold key to the future: Docklands, a special report". The Independent (London). Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  27. ↑ "Prescott backs DLR airport extension". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  28. ↑ "DLR: Take off for airport link" (Press release). M2 Presswire. 18 February 1999. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  29. ↑ De Haan, Judy (29 August 2000). "Getting Back on the Right Track (letter to the editor)". The Bolton News. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  30. ↑ Withers, Malcolm (8 March 2001). "DLR helps Mowlem ride high at £25 million". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  31. ↑ Muir, Hugh (12 October 2004). "Mayor unveils £10bn scheme for capital's transport". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  32. ↑ Hamilton, Fiona; Coates, Sam; Savage, Michael (6 December 2005). "Docklands Light Railway reaches City airport". The Times (London). Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  33. ↑ "New DLR extension wins approval". BBC News. 26 February 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  34. ↑ "AMEC, RBoS jv finalise contract for DLR extension to Woolwich Arsenal". Forbes (New York). 6 January 2005. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  35. ↑ "Tunnel extending Docklands Light Railway to Woolwich completed" (Press release). Transport for London. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
  36. ↑ "Mayor unveils DLR Woolwich Arsenal station" (Press release). Transport for London. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  37. ↑ "DLR extension award". Construction News. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  38. ↑ "Tower Gateway Station – Now Open". Transport for London. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  39. ↑ "DLR Terminal suddenly reopens: Taking passengers by surprise". East London Advertiser (Ilford). Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  40. ↑ Christopher (2013), p. 68
  41. ↑ "Docklands Light Railway (DLR) Delta Junction Grade Separation" (PDF). Transport for London. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  42. ↑ "Docklands Light Railway – West India Quay/Poplar Junction Improvements". Transport for London. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  43. ↑ "About TfL - Culture & heritage - London's transport - a history - Docklands Light Railway (DLR)". Transport for London. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  44. ↑ "Docklands Light Railway". Official London Guide. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  45. ↑ "DLR routes" (pdf). Transport for London (TfL). Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  46. ↑ "OSI List". oyster-rail.org.uk. October 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  47. ↑ "DLR was the first fully accessible railway in the UK, making access much easier for everyone". Transport for London. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  48. ↑ "Docklands Light Railway draws up public arts strategy" (Press release). Transport for London. 3 July 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  49. ↑ "The DLR Public Arts Programme". DLR Art. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  50. ↑ "Alan Williams – Sidetrack". Docklands Light Railway. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  51. ↑ "London jetpack: London Oyster travelcard". studentjetpacks.com. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  52. ↑ Webster, Ben; Clennell, Andrew (5 January 2004). "Tube errors may cost you dear". The Times (London).
  53. 1 2 "Docklands Light Railway performance". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  54. ↑ "Docklands Light Railway carries 60 million passengers" (Press release). Transport for London. 4 April 2007. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  55. ↑ "Client News - DLR now carries more than 10 times the population of London per year". Flagship Consulting. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  56. 1 2 "DLR: resolving the problems". London Docklands Development Corporation. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  57. ↑ "North Woolwich Research: Changes, 2006–2008 – The influence of Docklands Light Railway" (PDF). Social Research Associates. July 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
  58. ↑ "Horses for Courses: The Advantages of Light Rail". Commons Transport Select Committee. UK Parliament. 3 April 2005.
  59. ↑ Flintoff, John-Paul (17 September 2009). "Orbital rail the solution to city congestion?". The Times (Environment blog) (London). Archived from the original on 25 September 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  60. ↑ "Light Rail – the Solution to Inner-City Chaos?". Railway-Technology.com. 22 May 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  61. ↑ "Bikes on public transport". Transport for London. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  62. ↑ Low, Valerie (6 August 2007). "Last one in the water is toast". London Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  63. ↑ http://ibikelondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/good-news-from-today-you-can-take-your.html
  64. ↑ "About TfL - What we do - Docklands Light Railway". Transport for London (TfL). Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  65. ↑ "Unmanned Train: DLR Respond". The Londonist (blog). 2 November 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  66. ↑ "Bombardier receives a $94 million US order from Docklands Light Railway for automatic Light Rail cars to be used in London, UK" (Press release). Montreal: Bombardier. 4 May 2005. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
  67. ↑ Christopher (2013), p. 67
  68. ↑ Pearce, Alan; Hardy, Brian; Stannard, Colin (November 2000). Docklands Light Railway Official Handbook. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport Publishing. p. 66. ISBN 185414-223-2.
  69. ↑ "Docklands Light Railway – Development Projects". Transport for London. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  70. ↑ "Docklands Light Railway – Three-carriage Capacity Enhancement Project". Transport for London. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  71. ↑ "Longer trains for Docklands Line". BBC News. 31 July 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  72. ↑ "Docklands Light Railway (DLR) 3 Car Enhancements Project". Arup. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  73. ↑ "Taylor Woodrow wins £200m Docklands Light Railway project". Contract Journal. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  74. ↑ "Mudchute third platform". London Connections. 11 April 2008. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
  75. ↑ Barrow, Keith (July 2006). "Olympic rail gets a head start". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  76. ↑ "Extra carriage on every DLR train" (Press release). Transport for London. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  77. ↑ "Docklands Light Railway ready for 2012 Games with three-car upgrade completed" (Press release). Transport for London. 10 May 2011.
  78. ↑ "£20m bullet trains to serve Olympic Park" (Press release). London2012.org. 28 September 2004. Retrieved 6 July 2005.
  79. ↑ "Major contract award signals start of work on DLR Stratford International Extension". Transport for London. 10 January 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  80. ↑ "Government gives green light to key 2012 rail link" (Press release). Transport for London. 25 October 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  81. ↑ "New £211m DLR extension connecting Olympic venues opens". BBC News. 31 August 2011.
  82. ↑ http://www.london.gov.uk/media/mayor-press-releases/2015/11/mayor-announces-real-terms-fares-freeze-and-extends-free-travel
  83. ↑ "New DLR station opens at Pudding Mill Lane". Transport for London. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  84. ↑ "Pudding Mill Lane Station To Be Rebuilt". Londonist. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  85. 1 2 Abbott, James (March 2006). "DLR aims for Charing Cross". Modern Railways (London). p. 54.
  86. ↑ Docklands Light Railway – Dagenham Dock: Key Project Milestones Transport for London
  87. ↑ "Proposals for a DLR Dagenham Dock Extension" (PDF). Transport for London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  88. ↑ DLR Dagenham Dock extension preferred alignment. Transport for London. February 2008.
  89. ↑ "TfL Board meeting papers February 2008" (PDF). Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  90. ↑ "'Threat to homes' as DLR on hold". BBC News. 24 October 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  91. ↑ "TfL scraps projects and cuts jobs". BBC News. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  92. ↑ "Go-ahead for our new future". Barking and Dagenham Post. 22 June 2009.
  93. ↑ "Dagenham prison plan under attack". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  94. ↑ "Doubts over future DLR extension". BBC News. 20 October 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
  95. ↑ Hetherington, Peter (22 March 2006). "Home truths". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  96. ↑ "Mayor's Transport Strategy, Chapter five—transport proposals". Transport for London. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  97. ↑ Mr Beck's Underground map, Garland, K. p 63
  98. ↑ "London City Airport Extension" (PDF). Docklands Light Railway. 10 November 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  99. ↑ "Crossrail brings old tunnel back to life". BBC News. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  100. ↑ "DLR to City Airport". AlwaysTouchOut.com. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  101. ↑ Ove Arup & Partners Ltd. (July 2005). "Bank-Aldwych-Charing Cross (E2)" (PDF). DLR Horizon 2020 Study: Business Case Appraisal. Docklands Light Railway Ltd. p. 34. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  102. ↑ "DLR Victoria extension – official". District Dave's London Underground Site. 23 October 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  103. ↑ Clive Feather, Clive's UndergrounD Line Guides (CLUG), Jubilee Line, A Modern Tube. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  104. ↑ TfL Moots New DLR Routes, Including Victoria And St Pancras
  105. 1 2 "Potential DLR extensions" (PDF). Transport for London. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  106. ↑ Wilkes, Roger (19 June 2002). "One long picnic, it certainly ain't". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  107. ↑ "DLR takes off". Contract Journal. 6 May 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  108. ↑ "DLR to Catford". Always Touch Out. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  109. ↑ "Could the DLR or Bakerloo line be coming to Bromley?". This is Local London. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  110. ↑ "Future Rail and Tram Links to Bromley" (PDF). Report No. ES12004. London Borough of Bromley. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  111. ↑ "Masterplan". Lewisham Gateway: Phase A Consultation. Lewisham Council. December 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  112. ↑ "The Past and Future of the Bromley North Branch". London Reconnections. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  113. ↑ https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/rivercrossings/east-of-silvertown?cid=east-london-crossings
  114. ↑ London Docklands Light Railway; Northern Line's Dot-Matrix Indicators RISKS Digest Volume 5 Issue 29 Article 3, 13 August 1987
  115. ↑ Report on the Docklands Light Railway Accident Which Occurred at Island Gardens Station on 10 March 1987, Modern Railways (London), May 1987.
  116. ↑ "'Unauthorised Tests' Caused DLR Crash", Modern Railways (London), June 1987.
  117. ↑ Kamens, Jonathan I. (23 April 1991). "Another commuter train wreck in London". RISKS Digest 11 (52).
  118. ↑ "Computer-controlled commuter trains collide in east London". UPI. 22 April 1991.
  119. ↑ Batten, Ian G. (25 April 1991). "Trains collide in east London". RISKS Digest 11 (54).
  120. ↑ Tumposky, Ellen; Gentile, Don (10 February 1996). "Blast shatters London, Adams Presumes IRA's Responsible". New York Daily News. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  121. ↑ "Docklands bomb ends IRA ceasefire". BBC News. 10 February 1996. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  122. ↑ Companies House extract company no 3145194
  123. ↑ Acquisition of DRML Shares Serco
  124. ↑ "Four Pre-Qualify for DLR Franchise" (Press release). Transport for London. 15 February 2005.
  125. ↑ "Serco appointed preferred bidder for £400m Docklands Light Rail service" (Press release). Serco. 22 November 2005.
  126. ↑ "DLR awards new franchise to Serco" (Press release). Transport for London. 8 March 2006.
  127. ↑ "DLR management". Transport for London. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  128. ↑ TfL Subsidiary Company Structure. Transport for London.
  129. ↑ "TfL expects £250m saving from buying Docklands Light Railway PFI concessionaires". Railway Gazette (London). 6 December 2011.
  130. ↑ "DLR operating contract extended until September 2014" (Press release). Transport for London. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  131. ↑ Docklands Light Rail franchise contract. OJEU tender 13 July 2012.
  132. ↑ "DLR announces short list of bidders for new franchise" (Press release). Transport for London. 17 April 2013.
  133. ↑ Thomas, Natalie (31 August 2013). "Go-Ahead forced to pull out of DLR contest". The Daily Telegraph (London).
  134. ↑ "French firm wins 7-year Docklands Light Rail franchise". BBC News. 4 July 2014.

Bibliography

  • Jolly, Stephen; Bayman, Bob (November 1986). Docklands Light Railway Official Handbook. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport Publishing. ISBN 0-904711-80-3. 
  • Gonsalves, B.F.; Deacon, R.W.; Pilgrim, D; Pritchard, B.P. (October 1991). "Docklands Light Railway and Subsequent Upgrading" 90. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. OCLC 24833359. 

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