DLR passenger journeys return quicker than tube and bus
It may be of little surprise given development in the east and south east of London but the DLR has returned to passenger levels seen in 2012 while the tube and bus still lag someway behind.
In May this year the DLR saw 7.6 million journeys, which is someway below the 2020 equivalent of 9.6m but higher than a decade before which was 7.4m.
It’s not that far short of 2015 levels.
The tube however at 78.9m journeys was someway below a decade before when it saw 92.6m. In 2020 pre-pandemic it was at 106.1m.
Buses saw 140 million journeys in 2022 compared to 175.2m in 2020 and 189.2m a decade before. London’s bus network was declining even before 2020.
A number of additional cuts are currently in motion.
Of course the big question now is what impact the Elizabeth line will make on all these forms of transport – and we’ve already started to see numbers for Crossrail station usage.
The Woolwich branch of the DLR should see a reduction which was always forecast, before numbers recover as developments spring up along the line in years to come.
A recent trip along the line it shows why that is forecast, with Silvertown Quays work finally beginning eventually bringing 6,000 homes beside Millennium Mills.
Deanston Wharf with 800 homes is also coming along quickly.
Pontoon Reach with 295 homes is near completion, and Ballymore are looking to build 1,610 homes directly to the south.
Work also continues on a block in North Woolwich bringing 163 homes.
With so many new developments around DLR stations particularly east of the river this is good news for the DLR as many residents of these new developments are in walking distance of a DLR station. This is not the case South of the river which as much fewer DLR stations.
Sadly buses are seeing so many cuts to services and frequencies over the last few years with more cuts planned and routes subject to withdrawal bus services are now less frequent and overcrowded at peak times on the busier routes and this is set to get worse.