There will be two major service changes to the Docklands Light Railway during May, with one complete closure and another partial closure. These changes and closures are to allow the DLR to continue their £325 million three-car upgrade construction programme – and ensure it remains on schedule.
The entire network is closed today (Sunday 10th May) and this will allow work on the crucial Delta Junction just north of West India Quay.
Jonathan Fox, DLR Director, said: “This work is essential to allow three-car trains to run on the Bank-Lewisham line in early 2010. 'When we combined the disruption caused by the Delta Junction work with that caused by other upgrade work taking place across the network on the same day, it was clear it would be impossible to run a full service.”
Then between Saturday 23rd and Sunday 31st May there will be a partial closure of the network to allow critical junction work to be carried out at Canning Town – including a new flyover bridge. Throughout the entire nine day period all stations between East India and Prince Regent will be closed whilst between 23rd and 29th May all stations between East India and London City Airport will be closed. On Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st May the closure will be extended from Westferry to Woolwich Arsenal and Beckton.
Mr Fox commented: “This work at Canning Town will enable us to increase our service from Tower Gateway to Beckton. It will also mean more Woolwich Arsenal trains will run directly to Bank. It will also connect the current DLR network with the new Stratford International extension, ready for when it opens next year. The suspension needs to last nine days as the work - including signalling and train testing - has to take place on consecutive days. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate this will cause disruption so have planned the work to take place over the Bank Holiday weekend when passenger numbers are lower. The timing also reduces commuter disruption to four working days. Bus replacement services will run every two and a half minutes during peak times.”
Source: Transport for London