Transport for LondonDocklands Light Railway - Phase 2: Capacity Enhancements
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04/12/2009
DLR awards £10m contract for final three-carriage works
Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has awarded a £10m contract for capacity upgrades and improvements to its Beckton route to Taylor Woodrow.
The work, which will start this month and be complete by the end of next year will allow DLR to run three-carriage trains on the line instead of the current two-carriage service. Several station improvements will also be made.
Taylor Woodrow is in the final stages of upgrading all other parts of the DLR network, to enable the operation of three-carriage trains which will increase capacity by 50 per cent. By enhancing the Beckton line DLR has taken up the final option in its three-carriage contract with Taylor Woodrow.
Jonathan Fox, DLR Director, said: 'I am pleased to confirm Taylor Woodrow will conclude the three-carriage upgrade project. Once the Beckton works are complete longer trains will be able to run across the entire DLR network.
"The evolution of the three-carriage project is directly attributable to a genuine team effort between DLR and its partners, and we eagerly await the first clear sign of progress early next year when these longer trains begin running on the Bank-Lewisham route."
Group Director of Design, Development and Environment for the London Development Agency (LDA) which co-funded the work, Peter Bishop, said: "The London Development Agency is pleased that its £2 million investment will help increase the capacity of the DLR. This is vital for the growth of East London's communities. It will help people access jobs in the Capital and help make the most of the opportunities associated with hosting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The improved service will bring immediate benefits to east London."
London Regional Director at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which also contributed to the funding, David Lunts, said, "The HCA is pleased to have allocated funding to help towards this essential extension of the DLR which will hugely help the wider regeneration of East London."
Neil Johnson, Project Director for Taylor Woodrow, said: "We are delighted to be awarded this contract, and we are committed to delivering the works to the same standard as the three car upgrade and maintaining our strong working relationship with DLR."
As well as the main Taylor Woodrow works contract worth £10m, DLR has commissioned a further £8.2m for design and changes needed to trackwork and signaling. Of the total £18.2m Beckton extension funding, the Olympic Delivery Authority provided £10.8m, the Homes and Communities Agency £5.4m and the London Development Agency £2m.
DLR needs to introduce an extra carriage to its trains in order to keep pace with growing passenger numbers and the demands of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Three-carriage trains will run between Bank and Lewisham early next year followed by a network-wide roll out when the necessary passenger demand is in place.
Notes to Editors:
• DLR is part of Transport for London
• Taylor Woodrow is now known as Vinci Construction UK Ltd. As the three-carriage contract was with Taylor Woodrow and the Beckton route works are an addition to that contract, the contract remains between DLR and Taylor Woodrow
• The £325m three-carriage project includes upgrading 22 stations, rebuilding South Quay station (opened last month) and major infrastructure improvements at key junctions
• The Woolwich Arsenal extension has been built to accommodate three-carriage trains, as will the Stratford International extension when it is completed in summer 2010
• The Homes and Communities Agency is the single, national housing and regeneration agency for England. Their role is to create opportunity for people to live in high quality, sustainable places. They provide funding for affordable housing, bring land back into productive use and improve quality life by raising standards for the physical and social environment www.homesandcommunities.co.uk
For more information please contact:
TfL Press Office0845 604 4141
allanramsay@tfl.gov.uk
