Docklands Light Railway

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The Docklands Light Railway is a light rail service operating in the Docklands area of London.^[1] It first opened in 1987, having originally approved in 1984. It was part of a plan to enhance the out-of-use and delapidated Docklands, called Canary Wharf.^[2]

Much of the route follows closed sections of 19th century railways. Much of the line lies on these old railway viaducts across the docklands, however some lies overground, some in tunnels (between Bank and Shadwell, and Mudchute and Greenwich. The trains are fully automatic and, originally, used two carriage trainsets.

The system has many interchanges - the most important of these is Poplar. All DLR routes pass through this station, with the station being situated near a triangular junction. Also there are National Rail connections at Greenwich, Lewisham, Woolwich Arsenal, Limehouse, West Ham and Stratford, and Tower Gateway is close to Fenchurch Street. It links to the London Underground system at Bank, Canary Wharf, Stratford, Canning Town, and West Ham. Additionally, London Underground stations are within walking distance of Bow Church, Tower Gateway, and Heron Quays, these being Bow Road (on the Hammersmith and City and District Line), Tower Hill (on the Circle and District Line), and Canary Wharf (on the Jubilee Line - it is actually closer to Canary Wharf Underground station than Canary Wharf DLR!) It has a riverboat connection at Cutty Sark. It has one more connection at Shadwell - to the London Overground.^[3]

By 2021 the Canary Wharf neighbourhood the route was built to serve had over 21 million square feet of new retail and office space.^[4]

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