Docklands Light Railway

Introduction

This is a light railway system centred on the Docklands area to the east of the city of London. Much of the system re-uses former railway trackbeds.






Dates

  /  /1987Docklands Light Railway
First section of line opened.

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


Tower Gateway to Island Gardens

Services ran from Tower Gateway to Island Gardens.



DLR unit 130 calls at Limehouse on 25 January 2023.
...
Bill Roberton 25/01/2023
View from DLR unit no. 72 approaching Limehouse, on a special diverted service from Bank to Stratford, due to the weekend closure of the Lewisham ...
David Bosher 03/12/2022
Limehouse Viaduct, east London, from the south-east on 15th February 2014. This viaduct opened in 1840 for the London & Blackwall Railway and closed ...
David Bosher 15/02/2014
Unidentified DLR unit heading east along Limehouse Viaduct between Limehouse and Westferry stations, crossing the start of the Regent's Canal with ...
David Bosher 07/06/2008
4 of 4 images.


This is an elevated two platform station on the Docklands Light Railway. ...

More details

See also
Blackwall Railway
DLR unit 27, to Woolwich Arsenal, on the former London & Blackwall Railway viaduct between Limehouse and Westferry, seen from train heading to Bank, ...
David Bosher 27/04/2019
DLR unit 10 from Beckton to Tower Gateway approaching Westferry station, on 7th June 2008. The train is now on the original London & Blackwall Railway ...
David Bosher 07/06/2008
DLR unit 120 calls at Westferry on 25 January 2023.
...
Bill Roberton 25/01/2023
Just after leaving Westferry, this viaduct carries the Docklands Light Railway over the Limehouse Cut. Unit 59 approaches on 25 January 2023. See ...
Bill Roberton 25/01/2023
4 of 6 images. more


Sitting at the back of this DLR train, I was able to get this shot of unit 11 on a Canary Wharf to Stratford service just departed from West India ...
David Bosher 02/07/2021
A train on the Docklands Light Railway calls at West India Quay in the summer of 2005 with a city bound service. The station stands on the north side ...
John Furnevel /07/2005
One of the driverless trains on the London Docklands Light Railway automatically slows on the approach to West India Quay station on a sunny afternoon ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
A DLR train curves away from West India Quay towards Stratford on 28 July, while another from either Becton or Greenwich Arsenal passes below. ...
Bill Roberton 28/07/2014
4 of 5 images. more


DLR 32 with 15, from Lewisham to Bank, approaching Canary Wharf at 15.30 on 26th October 2021. ...
David Bosher 26/10/2021
The south end of Canary Wharf station, Docklands Light Railway, seen from approaching train to Bank just departed from Heron Quays, on the evening of ...
David Bosher 27/04/2019
DLR 32 with 15 from Lewisham to Bank arriving at Canary Wharf station, at 15.30 on 26th October 2021. The train on the left has just terminated ...
David Bosher 26/10/2021
Mind the gap. An early evening service to Lewisham on the London DLR passes between high rise buildings in what were once the West India Docks as it ...
John Furnevel /07/2007
4 of 12 images. more


A DLR service about to leave Heron Quays station, squeezed between the various office buildings, on 26 May 2014. ...
John Thorn 26/05/2014
Closure of the West India Docks in 1980 marked the end of an era on London's already run-down Isle of Dogs. Nowadays the name Docklands conjures up ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
Docklands Light Railway Unit 31 leaves Heron Quays station on 28 July 2014. ...
Bill Roberton 28/07/2014
Northbound and southbound services passing at the entrance to Heron Quays station on the London Docklands Light Railway in September 2010. ...
Veronica Clibbery 18/09/2010
4 of 5 images. more






DLR unit no. 54 to Lewisham arriving at Mudchute station on 5th December 2009. This is the second Mudchute station, opened in 1999 for the Lewisham ...
David Bosher 05/12/2009
1 of 1 images.







Stratford to West India Quay

Services ran from Stratford to Island Gardens.

DLR units 108 and 01 calling at their penultimate stop at Stratford low level. There is also a high level DLR station here for trains to Canary Wharf ...
David Bosher 29/10/2022
1 of 1 images.


View from a diverted service from Bank to Stratford, arriving at the 2014 Pudding Mill Lane station, on 3rd December 2022. DLR no.11, also on ...
David Bosher 03/12/2022
Looking south from the ArcelorMittal Orbit in Stratford's Olympic Park on 18 October 2014. View is across the GE main line towards the elevated ...
John Thorn 18/10/2014
2 of 2 images.


Seen from a TfL bus on route 25 to Ilford, the entrance to the DLR's Bow Church station, on the south side of Bow Road, that opened in 1987 with the ...
David Bosher 04/03/2023
Docklands Light Railway unit 148, from Stratford to Canary Wharf, arriving at Bow Church on the former NLR Poplar branch, on 15th October 2011. This ...
David Bosher 15/10/2011
2 of 2 images.


DLR unit no. 64 from Stratford to Canary Wharf, arriving at Devons Road, on 15th October 2011. The line was originally part of the North London ...
David Bosher 15/10/2011
1 of 1 images.




Poplar DLR station on 25 January 2023. Framed by the footbridge, a train for Stratford crosses over.
...
Bill Roberton 25/01/2023
View from DLR unit 138, from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank, arriving at Poplar where interchange with the Stratford to Canary Wharf line is available, on ...
David Bosher 04/03/2023
Platform view west from Poplar station on the Docklands Light Railway in 2005. The train is approaching platform 1 on the down line from Westferry ...
John Furnevel 21/07/2005
Like a Big Dipper at a funfair, this is a 4th March 2023 view from DLR unit 138, from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank, to the west of Blackwall station where ...
David Bosher 04/03/2023
4 of 13 images. more


Sitting at the back of this DLR train, I was able to get this shot of unit 11 on a Canary Wharf to Stratford service just departed from West India ...
David Bosher 02/07/2021
A train on the Docklands Light Railway calls at West India Quay in the summer of 2005 with a city bound service. The station stands on the north side ...
John Furnevel /07/2005
One of the driverless trains on the London Docklands Light Railway automatically slows on the approach to West India Quay station on a sunny afternoon ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
A DLR train curves away from West India Quay towards Stratford on 28 July, while another from either Becton or Greenwich Arsenal passes below. ...
Bill Roberton 28/07/2014
4 of 5 images. more





Poplar curve

North side of triangular junction initially only used for depot access.

This is an elevated two platform station on the Docklands Light Railway. ...

More details

See also
Blackwall Railway
DLR unit 27, to Woolwich Arsenal, on the former London & Blackwall Railway viaduct between Limehouse and Westferry, seen from train heading to Bank, ...
David Bosher 27/04/2019
DLR unit 10 from Beckton to Tower Gateway approaching Westferry station, on 7th June 2008. The train is now on the original London & Blackwall Railway ...
David Bosher 07/06/2008
DLR unit 120 calls at Westferry on 25 January 2023.
...
Bill Roberton 25/01/2023
Just after leaving Westferry, this viaduct carries the Docklands Light Railway over the Limehouse Cut. Unit 59 approaches on 25 January 2023. See ...
Bill Roberton 25/01/2023
4 of 6 images. more


Poplar DLR station on 25 January 2023. Framed by the footbridge, a train for Stratford crosses over.
...
Bill Roberton 25/01/2023
View from DLR unit 138, from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank, arriving at Poplar where interchange with the Stratford to Canary Wharf line is available, on ...
David Bosher 04/03/2023
Platform view west from Poplar station on the Docklands Light Railway in 2005. The train is approaching platform 1 on the down line from Westferry ...
John Furnevel 21/07/2005
Like a Big Dipper at a funfair, this is a 4th March 2023 view from DLR unit 138, from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank, to the west of Blackwall station where ...
David Bosher 04/03/2023
4 of 13 images. more





Bank Extension

Opened 1991 to improve connections to the city.






Beckton Extension

Opened 1994.

Poplar DLR station on 25 January 2023. Framed by the footbridge, a train for Stratford crosses over.
...
Bill Roberton 25/01/2023
View from DLR unit 138, from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank, arriving at Poplar where interchange with the Stratford to Canary Wharf line is available, on ...
David Bosher 04/03/2023
Platform view west from Poplar station on the Docklands Light Railway in 2005. The train is approaching platform 1 on the down line from Westferry ...
John Furnevel 21/07/2005
Like a Big Dipper at a funfair, this is a 4th March 2023 view from DLR unit 138, from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank, to the west of Blackwall station where ...
David Bosher 04/03/2023
4 of 13 images. more


DLR unit 11 calls at Blackwall, being passed by our unit 127 heading for Tower Gateway, on 25 January 2023.
...
Bill Roberton 25/01/2023
View from DLR unit 138, from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank, arriving at Blackwall on Saturday, 4th March 2023. This station bears no relation to the ...
David Bosher 04/03/2023
2 of 2 images.




DLR unit 122 to Woolwich Arsenal, arriving at Canning Town low level, with bus station on right, on Saturday, 25th March 2023. This is also an ...
David Bosher 25/03/2023
The DLR platforms at Canning Town in July 2005. Built above the original station, the escalators lead down to the North London line, Jubilee line, bus ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
The elevated DLR platforms at Canning Town in July 2005. The North London line, Jubilee line and bus interchange are at ground level. Note passengers ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
British Transport Police officers board a Docklands Light Railway service at Canning Town on 22 July 2005. This was part of a public reassurance ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
4 of 4 images.




DLR unit no.75 with no.97 from Tower Gateway to Beckton arriving at Custom House on the stifling hot (38C) afternoon of Saturday, 16th July 2022. ...
David Bosher 16/07/2022
DLR unit 144, on a short working from Beckton to Canning Town, arriving at Custom House on 3rd December 2022. The Beckton branch from Poplar was the ...
David Bosher 03/12/2022
DLR unit 55 with a service from Tower Gateway to Beckton arriving at Custom House on 15th July 2021. On the right are the as yet unopened Crossrail ...
David Bosher 15/07/2021
3 of 3 images.


Class 345 unit on an Elizabeth Line service to Abbey Wood, just departed from Custom House on the alignment of the former North Woolwich branch that ...
David Bosher 16/07/2022
Class 345, on a Crossrail test run to Paddington, emerging from the rehabilitated Connaught Tunnel, closed in 2006 when North Woolwich trains were ...
David Bosher 29/07/2021
Class 345 unit, on Crossrail test run to Paddington, heading away from the camera as it passes the Docklands Light Railway's Prince Regent station on ...
David Bosher 29/07/2021
Recovered track panels from the then recently closed Stratford - North Woolwich section of the North London Line standing alongside the 1994 Docklands ...
Michael Gibb 21/03/2008
4 of 4 images.






DLR unit no.130 from Beckton to Stratford International departing from Cyprus station on 6th April 2013, seen through the rear windows of a train ...
David Bosher 06/04/2013
1 of 1 images.


DLR unit no. 51 from Tower Gateway to Beckton approaching its penultimate stop at Gallions Reach, perhaps the least-used station on the DLR system, on ...
David Bosher 07/06/2008
1 of 1 images.


DLR unit 97 at Beckton terminus, awaiting departure for Tower Gateway, on 7th June 2008. The original Beckton station was at the end of a more direct ...
David Bosher 07/06/2008
1 of 1 images.





Lewisham Extension

Opened 1999.





DLR unit 57 to Lewisham at Greenwich, seen from approaching DLR train to Bank, on 27th April 2019. The National Rail platforms are out of view on ...
David Bosher 27/04/2019
1 of 1 images.











King George V Extension

Opened 2005.

DLR unit 122 to Woolwich Arsenal, arriving at Canning Town low level, with bus station on right, on Saturday, 25th March 2023. This is also an ...
David Bosher 25/03/2023
The DLR platforms at Canning Town in July 2005. Built above the original station, the escalators lead down to the North London line, Jubilee line, bus ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
The elevated DLR platforms at Canning Town in July 2005. The North London line, Jubilee line and bus interchange are at ground level. Note passengers ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
British Transport Police officers board a Docklands Light Railway service at Canning Town on 22 July 2005. This was part of a public reassurance ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
4 of 4 images.


DLR unit 22 from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank calling at West Silvertown, on Saturday, 25th February 2023. This station opened in 2005 with the DLR branch ...
David Bosher 25/02/2023
DLR unit no. 03 from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank approaching West Silvertown along the sinuous viaduct from Pontoon Dock, on a bright but bitterly cold ...
David Bosher 25/02/2023
View from DLR unit 138 with 141, from Woolwich Arsenal to Bank approaching West Silvertown on Saturday, 4th March 2023. This station opened in 2005 ...
David Bosher 04/03/2023
3 of 3 images.




London City Airport station, DLR, looking towards Woolwich Arsenal. This opened in 2005 with the first stage of the line from Canning Town as far as ...
David Bosher 04/03/2023
DLR train from Bank to Woolwich Arsenal, approaching London City Airport station, on 13th July 2021. It was a sheer fluke that this happened to go ...
David Bosher 13/07/2021
2 of 2 images.


This station is in the Docklands, London to the south of the King George V dock. ...

More details





Woolwich Arsenal Extension

Opened 2009.

This station is in the Docklands, London to the south of the King George V dock. ...

More details


Docklands Light Railway unit 123 waiting to depart for Bank from the sub-surface terminus at Woolwich Arsenal, opened in 2009 with the extension under ...
David Bosher 15/02/2014
1 of 1 images.





Stratford International to Canning Town Extension

Opened 2011 in connection with the Olympics held at Stratford in 2012.





DLR units 29 to Stratford International and 48 to Beckton at Stratford High Street on 3rd September 2011, three days after DLR trains began running ...
David Bosher 03/09/2011
Brand new but not yet in service, and apparently not even fitted with seats, DLR unit 201 at Stratford High Street while on test between there and ...
David Bosher 01/04/2023
Brand new, but as yet not in service, DLR unit 201 at Stratford High Street while on test between there and Abbey Road, on Saturday, 1st April 2023. ...
David Bosher 01/04/2023
3 of 3 images.


DLR unit 14, from Stratford International to Woolwich Arsenal, departing from Abbey Road on Saturday, 25th March 2023. This station is on the former ...
David Bosher 25/03/2023
Brand new Not in Service DLR unit no. 201 on test at Abbey Road on Sunday, 16th April 2023. The train was seen a short while earlier at Stratford High ...
David Bosher 16/04/2023
The rather uninspiring main entrance, on the hump overbridge, to Abbey Road DLR station on 25th March 2023 This opened in 2011 on the Stratford to ...
David Bosher 25/03/2023
Abbey Road, Docklands Light Railway, looking south on 3rd September 2011, four days after it opened and DLR trains took-over the Stratford to Canning ...
David Bosher 03/09/2011
4 of 5 images. more


313011 calls at West Ham (lower platform) with a service for North Woolwich in the 1980s.
...
Bill Roberton //
1 of 1 images.


DLR unit 83, from Stratford International to Woolwich Arsenal, departing from the 2011 station at Star Lane, on 25th March 2023. This is on the former ...
David Bosher 25/03/2023
DLR unit 31 to Woolwich Arsenal arriving at Star Lane, on 3rd September 2011, four days after it opened and DLR trains took over the Stratford to ...
David Bosher 03/09/2011
2 of 2 images.


DLR unit 122 to Woolwich Arsenal, arriving at Canning Town low level, with bus station on right, on Saturday, 25th March 2023. This is also an ...
David Bosher 25/03/2023
The DLR platforms at Canning Town in July 2005. Built above the original station, the escalators lead down to the North London line, Jubilee line, bus ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
The elevated DLR platforms at Canning Town in July 2005. The North London line, Jubilee line and bus interchange are at ground level. Note passengers ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
British Transport Police officers board a Docklands Light Railway service at Canning Town on 22 July 2005. This was part of a public reassurance ...
John Furnevel 22/07/2005
4 of 4 images.