On Monday 8th December the contract to operate the Docklands Light Railway passed over to a partnership of Keolis and Amey. The concession had up to then been with Serco for the previous eight years. The new operator, known as 'KeolisAmey Docklands', is now set to hold the contract until at least 2021, although it may continue until 2023 if all parties agree. The deal is worth at least £700 million,
Transport for London predicted that passengers will see the first significant change early next year, with the introduction of a five-minute off-peak service to Woolwich Arsenal and a five-minute service between Bank and Lewisham until 11.30pm, cutting waiting times in half. Three-car trains will also be introduced between Stratford and Canary Wharf at weekends. In the longer term, a five-minute off-peak service will be running on all DLR routes by 2017.
The DLR began operating in 1987, with 11 trains serving 15 stations. In its first year of operation it carried 6.7 million people. Today the railway, which is entirely step-free, has 45 stations, 38km of track and 149 vehicles. During the 2013-14 it carried a record-breaking 101.5 million passengers. That figure is expected to increase to 109 million in the current year.
The managing director of TfL London Rail Mike Brown said, “The increased services that the new operator will provide will help us meet growing demand and mean that we can continue to support economic development and growth. Our high standards of maintenance will continue and improve further, meaning cleaner trains and stations and other improvements that will make journeys for our customers even better.”