Transport for London (TfL) has said they are determined to provide more Londoners with access to greener journeys by impr
oving the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) network.
As the busiest light railway in the UK, the DLR operates across six opportunity areas that have the potential to provide over 124,000 homes and 200,000 jobs.
A proposed extension of the DLR to Becton Riverside and Thamesmead is currently under public consultation until 18 March 2024. Residents can have their say on the plans through TfL's DLR extension consultation page.
In addition to the potential expansion, TfL is introducing 54 new trains to replace the oldest 33 trains in its fleet, some dating back over 30 years. Eleven of these new trains were funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
The new trains aim to improve service frequency and reliability while supporting population and employment growth across the DLR network, particularly in areas like the Royal Docks and Isle of Dogs where it is the primary transport option.
Benefits include spacious walk-through carriages, live travel information, air conditioning, enhanced accessibility, and mobile charging points, the first of these modern trains arrived at Beckton depot in January 2023 for testing and integration with DLR's signalling systems. The full fleet is expected to be in service by 2026.
Alongside routine track maintenance, TfL is also upgrading power and communications infrastructure across the DLR during engineering hours to prepare for the new future of the network.