Transport for LondonDLR history timeline
- Pre-1982
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
Pre-1982
- The first of London's enclosed docks opened on the Isle of Dogs in 1802
- The docks were the local centre of employment and industry
- In the 1960s the Docklands went into decline
- By the 1980s the Docklands were no longer used and severely neglected
1982
- British Government makes the Isle of Dogs an enterprise zone to promote the regeneration of the area
- The land was made rate free for 10 years to encourage new development
- The London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) was created, to coordinate the development of the Docklands
- It becomes clear that a new transport system is needed for the area
- This was the start of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
1983
- Bill for route between Isle of Dogs and Stratford submitted to Parliament
1984
- First DLR Bill approved
- Construction starts
1985
- Stratford route approved
- Bank extension Bill submitted to Parliament
1986
- Bank extension approved
- November - Bill for Beckton extension submitted to Parliament
1987
- The Queen opens the DLR
- Upgrading begins to cope with Canary Wharf development
- Service increased from one to two rail cars
- Work starts on Bank extension
- London City Airport opened for business
1988
- May - Foundation work commenced at Canary Wharf
- Tunnelling starts on 1.6km extension to Bank
1989
- Lewisham extension proposed
- Royal Assent for 8km Beckton Extension to Royal Docks area
1990
- January - Construction of Beckton extension starts
- Lewisham extension submitted to Parliament
- New SelTrac moving block train control system ordered for the whole railway
- New fleet of trains ordered
1991
- Bank extension opens
- Canary Wharf station opens
- DLR takes delivery of 70 new rail cars
- Original fleet of 11 sold to Essen in Germany
View a map of previous extensions (PDF 188KB).
1992
- DLR's ownership transferred to LDDC and new management team appointed
1993
- October - Canary Wharf working population 7,000
- North Quay remodelling completed
- Lewisham extension approved by Parliament
- Lewisham Extension Private Finance Initiative (PFI) announced
1994
- May - Canary Wharf working population 8,000 +
- October - Canary Wharf working population 10,200
- December - Canary Wharf working population 12,800 +
- Beckton extension opens with a shuttle service between Poplar and Beckton
- Launch of DLR's first customer charter
View a map of previous extensions (PDF 188KB).
1995
- Full conversion to Alcatel's SelTrac moving block train control system
- Tower Gateway to Beckton services start running
1996
- January - Canary Wharf working population 13,400
- October - Canary Wharf working population 14,000
- Pudding Mill Lane station opened
- Bank four-minute service introduced
- Award of Lewisham extension concession
- Construction starts on the UK's first PFI railway - the 4.2km £200 million Lewisham extension
1997
- January - Canary Wharf working population 15,126
- December - Canary Wharf working population 21,000 +
- Franchise let
- Docklands Railway Management Limited (DRML) takes over operation of DLR as the Franchisee
- DLR begins new role as owner of the assets
- Fleet of 10 P89 stock vehicles sold to Essen in Germany
- DLR is ten years old
1998
- September - Canary Wharf working population 23,000
- DLR starts operating from Canning Town station
- Bank three-minute service introduced
- Horizon study completed on future growth and improvements
- Government approval in principle for extension to London City Airport
1999
- February - Canary Wharf working population 25,000
- October - London City Airport extension Transport and Works Act (TWA) application submitted
- Introduction of second generation of Alcatel's SelTrac train control system
- Public consultation on preferred route to London City Airport
- Lewisham extension opens ahead of schedule
- Serco buys out the shares of the former Docklands Light Railway Ltd (DLRL)
View a map of previous extensions (PDF 188KB).
2000
- January - Canary Wharf working population 27,000
- March - London City Airport extension public inquiry
- September - Canary Wharf working population 30,600
- Franchisee becomes known as Serco Docklands Limited (SDL)
- SDL wins the best UK Light Rail/Metro operator at the National Rail Awards
- Transport for London (TfL) formed, created by the Greater London Authority (GLA)
- TfL responsible for planning and supply of transport in London
2001
- November - Canary Wharf working population 41,000
- Public consultation on extending the DLR to Woolwich Arsenal
- TfL set up a separate Rail Services Division that includes the DLR
- Serco Docklands Ltd (SDL) wins National Rail Awards
2002
- January - Canary Wharf working population 42,000
- March - London City Airport extension powers approved
- April - SDL awarded a two year extension to their franchise until end March 2006
- July - Woolwich Arsenal extension TWA application submitted
- August - London City Airport extension signed contract for works
- December - Canary Wharf working population 55,000
- DLR buys 24 new rail cars to prepare for the opening of the London City Airport Extension and to allow for more frequent sevices on the existing route
- The redeveloped Heron Quays station opens
- SDL wins National Rail Awards
2003
- January - Woolwich Arsenal extension public inquiry
- March - Construction of London City Airport extension begins
- SDL wins National Rail awards
2004
- February - powers approved for Woolwich Arsenal extension
- June - Stratford station planning application submitted
- September - Stratford station planning approval
- June - Approval of the submission under the TWA for the extension of the DLR to Woolwich Arsenal
- Programme to refurbish DLR's 94 rail cars underway
- Enhancement of Tower Gateway station completed
- DLR applies for powers to increase capacity of Bank Lewisham route
- Beckton extension is 10 years old
- SDL wins National Rail Awards
2005
- February - capacity enhancement inquiry
- June - construction begins at Woolwich Arsenal extension
- June - Stratford station contract signed for works
- August - Stratford station construction begins
- SDL wins National Rail Award and 34 secure station awards
- Start of refranchising competition
- Second Horizon study (Horizon 2020) on future extensions and enhancements
- DLR begins preparing for the 2012 Games
- August - DLR applies for powers to extend to Stratford International
- November - Planning application submitted for Langdon Park station
- December - DLR London City Airport extension opened
2006
- February - Langdon Park station planning and funding agreed
- March - Stratford International extension public inquiry
- April - Mayor launches tunnelling of DLR to Woolwich
- May - Serco Docklands (Serco) awarded new franchise to operate and maintain the DLR
- June - DLR wins 2006 Railway Industry Innovation Award
- July - 31 new rail cars ordered for future DLR extensions and the 2012 Games
- August - DLR Shadwell station refurbishment begins
- October - DLR London City Airport station wins the Community Rail Award for best 'Local Transport Integration Project'
- October - Department for Transport gives planning approval for the 6km extension of the DLR to Stratford International
- November - Construction work begins on a new DLR station at Langdon Park
- December - DLR wins the London Planning Award for 'Best Public Sector Planning Organisation'
2007
- January - DLR launches the first phase of consultation over the extension to Dagenham Dock
- April - DLR carries 60 million passengers for the first time
- April - Serco Docklands celebrates ten years of operating the railway
- May - DLR and Serco Docklands win 'Transport Team of the Year' at the London Transport Awards
- May - DLR awards a £200m contract to Taylor Woodrow to improve the railway so an extra carriage can be added
- June - DLR opens the first of its two new platforms at Stratford station
- July - DLR awards its main construction contract to build the Stratford International extension to a Skanska and GrantRail joint venture
- July - DLR launches its second phase of consultation for its proposed extension to Dagenham Dock
- July - DLR launches its first ever Public Arts Strategy
- July - The tunnel extending the DLR under the River Thames to Woolwich Arsenal completed on time
- August - DLR celebrates its 20th anniversary
- October - Refurbishment works at West India Quay station completed
- December - DLR Langdon Park station opens
2008
- February - First DLR public art installation - 'Solid Turbulence' by Anthony Lam - at Shadwell station
- March - DLR unveils its new trains
- June - Woolwich Information Centre opens
- July - Improvement works to Gallions Reach station forecourt complete
- July - DLR hosts a Bike Breakfast event at Shadwell station to highlight the station's new bicycle shelter to residents and local cyclists
- July - DLR's Public Art Strategy celebrates its first anniversary
- August - Shadwell station refurbishment programme complete
- August - Limehouse interchange improvements begin
- September - The first of the new rail cars are introduced into passenger service
- December - New ticket machines in trial across network
2009
- January - Woolwich Arsenal extension opens ahead of schedule
- March - DLR re-opens refurbished Tower Gateway station
- March - DLR wins 'Cycling Improvements' London Transport Award
- April - DLR confirms funding for an £18.2m upgrade which will allow three-car trains to operate on the Beckton route
- August - DLR opens new 'flyunder' track at West India Quay station
- October - New South Quay station opens, with longer platforms for three-car trains
- November - Limehouse station footbridge link opens between DLR and National Rail services
2010
- January 2010 - Re-modelling of Royal Mint Street Junction complete
- February 2010 - Three-carriage trains introduced on the Bank to Lewisham route
- May 2010 - New Scissor Crossing constructed between Prince Regent and Custom House for ExCeL
- July 2010 - All 55 new vehicles in passenger operation (total of 149 vehicles)
- November 2010 - DLR's busiest ever day on 10.11.10, carrying 303,557 passengers
- November 2010 - Three-carriage trains introduced between Stratford and Canary Wharf
2011
- April 2011 - DLR carries 75 million passengers for the first time in its history
- May 2011 - Three-carriage trains introduced on the Tower Gateway to Beckton route
- May 2011 - Three-carriage capability across the entire network
- August 2011 - New Stratford International to Canning Town extension opens
