TfL Ref: FOI-2554-2425
Thank you for your request which we received on 11 November 2024, asking for information about DLR services between Beckton, Canning Town and Stratford International.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You specifically asked:
I would like to know why these services were originally removed, what is used to decided which days to reinstate these services, and what is the timeframe for these services to be reintroduced as a permanent fixture.
Through services between Beckton and Stratford International were first introduced in August 2011, with services from Stratford International operating to Woolwich Arsenal in the peaks and Beckton in the off-peak.
By 2015, off-peak demand on the Woolwich Arsenal branch had grown substantially and there was a need to increase service levels so that capacity better matched demand. At this time, the Stratford International - Beckton service was curtailed to West Ham (and later Canning Town) to release trains to run Stratford International – Woolwich Arsenal services all day.
Beckton trains have occasionally run through to Stratford International since then, usually under special circumstances (e.g. engineering works). At present, we are operating off-peak Beckton services through to Stratford International as it is not operationally feasible to terminate them at Canning Town in the current timetable.
We are now in the process of introducing a new train fleet. As part of a package of enhancements across the DLR, we expect to introduce both peak and off-peak Stratford International-Beckton services on a permanent basis once sufficient new trains are available to permit this.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London