On the right track for the Olympics

From humble beginnings, Docklands Light Railway has become the UK rail industry’s most prominent success story and will play a key role in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Docklands Light Railway (DLR) opened in 1987 as a modest £77 million railway to serve the earliest development sites in the Docklands area, operating 11 vehicles via 15 stations.

Today DLR is a £1 billion, 31km railway that operates 94 vehicles and serves 38 stations. It has expanded to serve Bank (1991), Beckton (1994), Lewisham (1999) and London City Airport (2005) and is the most reliable railway in the UK. DLR passenger numbers continue to grow: currently more than 50m journeys are made each year, with 80m forecast for 2009.

All DLR stations provide fully accessible step-free access to platforms and trains and the network has direct interchange with over 100 bus routes, five mainline railways, eight Underground lines and coach, taxi and riverboat services.

Hitting the ground running

The DLR will be a major transport provider during the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympics Games.

It will face many challenges, as 500,000 spectators are expected to attend events every day, with 9,700,000 spectators anticipated in total. The Olympic Transport Strategy is founded on encouraging all spectators to travel to events by either public transport, walking or cycling: there will be parking at venues only for the mobility impaired.

This makes the role of London’s transport system crucial to the success of the Games, as it will be required to provide safe, reliable and punctual transport for all Olympic client groups whilst minimising the impact on existing road and public transport users.

The DLR has already hit the ground running in its preparations. The recent opening of the DLR London City Airport (LCA) extension is proof that expansion of the network required to meet the needs of the Games is already being delivered. As part of Transport for London’s (TfL) £10bn Five Year Investment Programme, this and a range of forthcoming capacity upgrades to the DLR network are designed to support the regeneration of East London and secure the future prosperity of the capital itself.

By 2010, the network will provide direct connections to Stratford Regional and Stratford International stations, which will serve the Olympic Park as well as the ‘River Zone’ venues: ExCeL via Custom House and Prince Regent stations; Greenwich Park via Cutty Sark and Greenwich stations; and Woolwich via Woolwich Arsenal station.

Raising the bar

The objective of sustainable transport will be met by a strategy that maximises the use of the existing infrastructure. In the case of the DLR this will in part be achieved by introducing a number of enhancements to the existing network in order to meet projected demand before, during and after the Games whilst providing considerable legacy benefits.

A number of high profile projects have been completed, are underway or being planned.

In December 2005 the DLR LCA extension opened on budget and ahead of schedule. Praised by Lord Coe, Chairman of London 2012, as ‘timely and impressive’, the extension will provide quick and easy access from the airport to Olympic venues and local accommodation. It is expected to be well used by passengers arriving by air and will also act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the Silvertown and North Greenwich localities as well as the wider Lee Valley by increasing social mobility and providing better access to jobs.

Meanwhile construction of a new connection to Woolwich Arsenal from the LCA extension has already started; completion is expected early 2009. The station will serve the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, which will hold the Olympic shooting events.

A new route, the Stratford International extension, will provide a link to the Olympic Park and run up to 30 trains per hour during the Games. Scheduled to open in 2010, it will involve the conversion of the existing North London Line (NLL) to DLR operation between Stratford and Royal Victoria. The extension will encompass eight stations, including Stratford International, which will serve the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Station.

The conversion of the NLL to DLR will provide a number of long term benefits. A frequent, high quality service will continue to operate after the Games; new stations will serve existing and future communities; and the extension is expected to act as a catalyst for regeneration in the Lower Lea valley, opening up employment and development opportunities.

A Public Inquiry for the Stratford International extension will take place in March 2006.

An enhancement scheme on the DLR’s busiest route, which runs from Bank / Tower Gateway to Lewisham, will see an extra car added to DLR trains and boost capacity by 50%. The scheme has been approved by Government and is planned to operate by 2009. The route encompasses Cutty Sark and Greenwich stations, which will serve the Greenwich Park Olympic venue, the host of equestrian and modern pentathlon riding and running events.

Meanwhile by 2010 an extra car will be added to train services on the Stratford to Lewisham route, which will also see heavy spectator usage.

The ExCeL Centre, which will host several events including boxing, table tennis and weightlifting, will be served by DLR Prince Regent and Custom House stations. Access improvements that will increase the capacity of both stations are being planned, including the construction of an additional staircase for Prince Regent, which will ensure that high numbers of spectators can pass through the station safely and efficiently.

The improvements will also have a longer-term benefit, as, for instance, the Prince Regent staircase will assist in the efficient operation of the station on ExCeL’s busier days, and the increased capacity at the station will be well used if proposed expansions to the venue take place.

Construction of the enhanced access arrangements are expected to start in 2008 and be completed by 2010.

A gold medal service

In order to meet the high level of passenger demand for the Games additional trains and staff will be provided. An order for twenty two rail cars, funded by the Olympic Delivery Authority and TfL, will be placed later this year for delivery during 2008 and 2009.

The legacy value will be the availability of additional rail cars for projected passenger growth and further expansions to the network.

Additional staff on trains and at stations will be in place to maintain safety and security. Provision is made within the Olympic Transport Plan for the recruitment and training of such staff, and increased signage and availability of information will further assist passengers.

Crossing the finishing line

The DLR will play a significant part in the Olympic Transport Plan by ensuring that demand for travel during the Olympic and Paralympics Games can be safely and efficiently accommodated, and that the journey becomes an enjoyable part of the Games experience for spectators.

The Games will stimulate the development of East London even further, and the benefits for the local community will be felt for years to come.

The hosting of a successful Games, served by a proficient and effective transport network, will leave the Docklands and its pioneering railway well ahead of the field.