Improving the DLR

New DLR trains are helping to make journeys brighter

We're determined to give more Londoners access to greener journeys. That is why we're improving the DLR network to make journeys in London brighter for everyone.

The DLR is the busiest light railway in the UK. It operates across 6 opportunity areas in London which together have the potential to provide more than 124,000 homes and 200,000 jobs.

Potential DLR extension

We're considering extending the DLR to to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead.

Our consultation on the extension is now closed. Find out more on the DLR extension consultation page.

new dlr train

New trains

We're introducing 54 new trains to replace the 33 oldest trains in our fleet, some of which are more than 30 years old. Our order for 11 of the extra trains was funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The new trains will help us to improve the frequency and reliability of services and support population and employment growth across the network, particularly in parts of the Royal Docks and the Isle of Dogs where the DLR is the main transport option.

Benefits

We'll start introducing the new trains in 2024, with the whole fleet in place by 2026.

Features include:

  • Spacious walk-through carriages
  • Live travel information
  • Air conditioning
  • Improved accessibility features
  • Mobile device charging points

The first of the new trains arrived at Beckton depot in January 2023. They're being tested and integrated with the DLR's signalling system to ensure they're reliable when they come into service.

Other works at Beckton and Poplar depots and on the rest of the network are required to prepare for the new fleet. Alongside routine track and infrastructure maintenance, we are upgrading our power and communications systems across the network during engineering hours and closures.

Planned closures

We'll do everything we can to minimise disruption to customers, but on some weekends we'll need to close sections of the railway to finish the DLR upgrade work. We apologise for any inconvenience. The closures for the next few months are published on our planned line closures and service changes page.

Saturday 13 April- Sunday 14 April

  • Bank to Lewisham, Tower Gateway to Canning Town and Stratford to Canary Wharf: New train testing

Friday 26 April- Sunday 28 April

  • Reduced service on DLR routes due to Beckton Depot upgrade in preparation for the new trains.

Saturday 4 May- Monday 6 May

  • Westferry and Poplar to Lewisham: maintenance works

Friday 10 May- Sunday 12 May

  • Reduced service on DLR routes due to Beckton Depot upgrade in preparation for the new trains.

Friday 17 May- Sunday 19 May

  • Reduced service on DLR routes due to Beckton Depot upgrade in preparation for the new trains.

Construction at Beckton Depot

The main depot works started in 2021 and will finish in 2025.

Noise

Although some noise is unavoidable during such works, our contractor will take all reasonably practicable measures to control it in line with the Control of Pollution Act 1974. We're a community railway and minimising disturbance to our neighbours is key.

Contact us if you have any concerns or questions about the programme of works:

DLR timetable

A new DLR timetable started in May 2023, bringing more frequent services and reduced waiting times across the entire DLR network. These improvements built on the enhancements we made to the DLR timetable in September 2022.

Trains on the Woolwich Arsenal and Stratford International route are currently running a 2-car service on weekdays.

This temporary reduction will help keep the service reliable while older trains are phased out. The normal 3-car service will be gradually restored when new trains enter service later in 2024. Thank you for your patience.

Train frequencies and times remain the same.

Bank station improvements

In late 2022, we opened brand new escalators to directly link the Northern line platforms with the DLR at Bank station.

Early in 2023, we added a new entrance to Bank station on Cannon Street, and a lift connection from here links customers with the DLR. The new lift makes travel through Bank station easier and more reliable.

Escalators at Cutty Sark

We have completed the refurbishment of 3 out of 4 escalators. We will at some point need to refurbish the remaining escalator which will involve taking it out of service. With the remaining 1 escalator works we have pre-ordered parts - a lesson learnt from the project.

We apologise that some of the escalators continue to be out of service. Despite refurbishing them recently, they continue to have issues which are causing unreliability. We are working hard with our contractor to identify these issues and resolve them as quickly as possible.

We're improving the ambience throughout the station, working closely with local stakeholders such as Visit Greenwich to produce artwork installations to make the Cutty Sark station a more welcoming environment. We've also added a more frequent cleaning regime to ensure the station is kept clean for customers throughout the improvement works.

We're sorry if this work causes you any inconvenience. We regularly review our communications to ensure we provide the most up-to-date information.

North Quay

We're working closely with Canary Wharf Group to support the development of the North Quay, alongside the Elizabeth line Canary Wharf station. This will mean improved access to West India Quay station and a new connection from Poplar station directly into the Canary Wharf estate, improving connections with City Airport, ExCeL and more.

These improvements will begin from 2024.