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The Docklands Light Railway is a light rail
public transport metro serving the redeveloped Docklands area of east
London, England. The DLR is separate from the London Underground, with
separate tracks and rolling stock.
All the trains are computer-controlled and have no
driver: a passenger service agent (PSA) on each train is responsible for
patrolling the train, checking tickets, making announcements, and
controlling the doors. PSAs can also take control of the train in case of
computer failure or emergency.
The DLR is operated by high-floor, bi-directional,
single-articulated cars with four doors on each side, with each train
composed of two cars. The cars have no driver’s cab, although there is a
small driver’s console concealed behind a locked panel at each car end
from which the PSA can drive the car in an emergency. Other consoles at
each door opening allow the PSA to control door closure and make
announcements whilst patrolling the train. Because of the absence of a
driver’s position, the fully glazed car ends provide an excellent forward
(or rear) view for passengers.
The DLR was conceived in the late 1980s by the London
Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) to aid the regeneration of the
docks of East London, which had been derelict since the 1960s. As
originally conceived, the system was to be entirely above ground and
consist of three branches, with their termini at Tower Gateway, Stratford,
and Island Gardens. The early plan was an underground line with
connections from Charing Cross to Woolwich Arsenal via Fenchurch Street,
Surrey Docks, Isle of Dogs, North Greenwich and Custom House. However
things changed when the Conservative Government took office on 4th May
1979. They ordered the study into feasible light rail options, resulting
in the birth of the DLR.
The initial idea was to use modern tram-derived light
rail vehicles, with overhead current collection, manual driving, and some
street running. The LDDC, however, wanted to showcase cutting-edge
technology and disliked overhead wires, and so chose an
automatically-driven system with third-rail current collection, but still
using tram-derived vehicles. Most of the track was elevated, either on new
lightweight concrete viaducts or on disused railway viaducts, with some
use of disused surface-level railway right of way. The system was opened
by Queen Elizabeth II on 31 July 1987, with passenger service starting a
month later, on 31 August.
Stations on west to east branches
Terminus: Bank for
Central London
Terminus: Tower Gateway
for The Tower of London
Shadwell
Limehouse
Westferry
Poplar
Blackwall
East India
Canning Town
Royal Victoria
Custom House
Prince Regent
Royal Albert
Beckton Park
Cyprus
Gallions Reach
Terminus: Beckton
Stations on north to south branches
Terminus: Stratford
Pudding Mill Lane
Bow Church
Devons Road
All Saints
Poplar
West India Quay
Canary Wharf
Heron Quays
South Quay
Crossharbour and London Arena
Mudchute
Island Gardens
Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich
Greenwich
Deptford Bridge
Elverson Road
Terminus: Lewisham
Stations on London City Airport branch
Canning Town
West Silvertown
Pontoon Dock
London City Airport
Terminus: King George V
Future Terminus:
Woolwich Arsenal (to be opened in 2009)
Experience another ride on the Docklands Light Railway
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See another video of the
London Underground