A new eight-year contract to operate and maintain the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has been awarded by Transport for London (TfL) to KeolisAmey, which continues the franchise it has successfully run for the past 10 years.

KeolisAmey won the contract, which is due to start on 1 April 2025, through a competitive tendering process.

A number of key improvements are earmarked for delivery under the new contract, with the focus on delivering a better customer experience to meet the projected increase in demand for services in the future.

Among the planned major improvements are to improve the appearance and availability of ticket machines, lifts, and escalators, and:

• Enhancing timetables with more frequent services.
  
• Increase the capacity to support population growth, especially parts of the network where the Docklands Light Railway is the main transport option such as the Royal Dock and the Isle of Dogs.
  
• Meet customer satisfaction targets for the appearance and availability of ticket machines, lifts, escalators, and information systems.
  
• Introducing better ways in which performance can be measured to make sure customers are receiving the best possible service.
  

As a step to improving the frequency and reliability of services, 54 new trains will be introduced to the network.

These will replace the 33 oldest trains in the fleet, supplemented by another 21 to help increase overall capacity by 50 percent.

KeolisAmey will also support Transport for London in its quest to improve London’s air quality by reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, and its Vision Zero commitments to eliminate deaths and serious injuries across London’s transport network.

Access DLR, a free travel assistance service for anyone over 18 who needs extra support, will be promoted more widely, and new performance incentives will be introduced that give an increased focus on reducing levels of fare evasion and protecting Transport for London’s revenue.

“Over the next few years, customers will benefit from a number of improvements, including a fleet of new trains offering increased capacity and frequency.
“I am looking forward to continuing to work with KeolisAmey. Over the next few years, customers will benefit from a number of improvements, including a fleet of new trains offering increased capacity and frequency, so the continuing support and new ideas KeolisAmey will bring to enhance the experience for customers will be invaluable.”

Tom Page, TfL’s General Manager for the Docklands Light Railway

“We’re delighted to continue our journey with TfL and are looking forward to working together over the coming years to benefit all DLR customers. KeolisAmey is excited to deliver further improvements to the customer experience, support the introduction of the new trains and enhance capacity on this integral part of London’s transport network.”

Alistair Gordon, chief executive of Keolis UK