Temporary changes to the DLR timetable will be introduced from Monday 21 July ahead of the introduction of a new fleet of trains later this year, which will boost frequency and reliability.
The timetable changes coincide with the start of the summer school holidays when services are typically quieter meaning fewer customers will be impacted by the changes.
The revised timetable is necessary to ensure a reliable service can be maintained across the entire DLR network, with changes focused where customer demand is typically lower. The key changes from Monday 21 July are:
Beckton to Canning Town/Stratford International services will not run (Tower Gateway to Beckton services will continue to run as normal)
Peak hour services between Stratford and Lewisham will not run (services between Canary Wharf and Stratford will run every 5 minutes in the peaks and every 6.5 minutes off peak. Bank to Lewisham services will continue to run as normal. If required, customers will need to change at Canary Wharf to continue their journey)
Peak hours are 06:30–10:00 and 16:00–19:30, Monday to Friday.
These temporary changes follow similar short-term adjustments made successfully over the Easter period earlier this year.
These changes are necessary due to the age of the existing DLR trains. Some of the oldest trains will need to be retired this summer meaning this temporary reduction in DLR service levels is necessary to maintain a safe and reliable service. The first of the 54 brand-new DLR trains will start to enter service later this year and when enough new trains are in service TfL will restore the full timetable and ultimately deliver more frequent and reliable services across the DLR network. Extensive testing is continuing, which included successful mixed operation trails with both new and existing fleet in May, with excellent progress being made.
The introduction of the 54 new trains will increase capacity by more than 50 per cent, with each new train offering 10 per cent more space, air-conditioning, walk-through carriages, improved live travel information and mobile device charging points, and enhanced accessibility features.
Stuart Harvey, TfL’s Chief Capital Officer, said: “The testing of the new DLR trains is progressing well and customers will start to be able to use these modern trains later this year. The new trains will ensure a more frequent and reliable service across the network and support growth in the Docklands and beyond.
“We need to begin retiring some of the oldest trains, meaning some short-term timetable changes are required. We apologise for this inconvenience to customers, but they are necessary to ensure we can maintain the safest most reliable service.”
Customers are advised to plan ahead, allow extra time for journeys, and use the TfL Journey Planner and TfL Go app to stay informed. Posters, announcements, and trained staff will be available on-board trains to assist passengers during this period.
The DLR plays a vital role in supporting growth across six designated Opportunity Areas in London, where more than 124,000 new homes and 200,000 jobs are planned. Around 45,000 homes are already under construction or have planning approval within walking distance of the DLR. The additional capacity and improved reliability provided by the new trains will be essential in supporting this future growth, particularly in key areas such as the Royal Docks and Isle of Dogs.
