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Improving the DLR

With DLR improvements, journeys are getting brighter

We're always working to make your journeys better. That's why we're introducing new DLR trains for more comfortable journeys. 

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. 

Escalators at Cutty Sark

Cutty Sark station is now closed until spring 2026 while we replace all 4 escalators with new state-of-the-art, energy-efficient escalators. The station closure allows us to work on all the escalators at once and reopen the station in the quickest and safest way possible.

Travel options during the closure include:

  • DLR and National Rail services from nearby Greenwich station (650 metres) - a walking route between Cutty Sark and Greenwich stations via Greenwich Church Street and Greenwich High Road is signposted with black and white walking route signs
  • Local bus services - route 129 and route 199 run regularly in both directions between Cutty Sark and Greenwich stations
  • Scheduled riverboat services RB1 and RB6 (separate river fare applies) from Greenwich Pier, a short walk from Cutty Sark station
  • The Greenwich foot tunnel free walking route under the river, (check the Royal Borough of Greenwich website for current lift status) this connects Island Gardens on the north bank of the River Thames to Cutty Sark on the south bank

DLR journeys between Island Gardens and Greenwich (in either direction) will also be refunded until at least 7 April 2026 as part of the introduction of the Silvertown Tunnel. You must touch in and out at the start and end of these journeys as usual - the fare for the journey will be taken as normal.

A refund will then be issued to your payment cards within 14 days of completing the journey.

You can plan your journey using our Journey Planner or TfL Go app.

Thank you for your patience while we do the work.

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

The new DLR trains will feature:

  • 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 needed to prepare for the new fleet. Alongside routine track and infrastructure maintenance, we're upgrading our power and communications systems across the network during engineering hours and closures.

Planned closures and service amendments in 2025

Saturday 7 June - Monday 9 June

  • Bank/Tower Gateway to Lewisham/Canning Town and Stratford to Canary Wharf - signal testing

Saturday 14 June - Sunday 15 June

  • Bank/Tower Gateway to Lewisham/Canning Town and Stratford to Canary Wharf - new trains testing

Saturday 21 June - Sunday 22 June

  • Poplar to Beckton and Woolwich Arsenal to Stratford International - new trains testing

Saturday 28 June - Sunday 29 June

  • Beckton to Prince Regent - depot upgrade works to prepare for new trains

Saturday 5 July - Sunday 6 July

  • Bank/Tower Gateway to Lewisham/Canning Town and Stratford to Canary Wharf - signal testing

Construction at Beckton Depot

We're still developing this facility so it's ready for the introduction of our new train fleet. The main depot works started in 2021

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:

Potential DLR extension

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

Our report on the consultation we held is on the DLR extension consultation page.

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.

Canary Wharf Group started construction on these improvements in 2024.