Transport for London award new DLR contract to Keolis Amey
Keolis Amey have been awarded a new eight year contract to operate the DLR by Transport for London.
The company are expected to introduce improvements when the new contract starts on 1st April 2025 and have run the network for the past decade.
Those upgrades include fully introducing and promoting Access DLR, a free travel assistance service for anyone over 18 who needs extra support, efforts to reduce fare evasion as well as new customer satisfaction targets covering ticket machines, lifts, escalators and information systems.
Current problems
The network is currently having a tough time as new trains that were supposed to be introduced before April 2024 are now indefinitely delayed.
That isn’t the fault of the network operator. Testing issues have arisen on the trains under construction for TfL by Spanish manufacturer CAF.
That means trains around 30 years old are having to run in service for longer. An issue as some reach mileage totals requiring heavy maintenance. To mitigate that TfL have reduced train lengths in places.
Another recent headache is that trains have been slowed down which has caused some services to be cut. Passengers have complained of irregular spacings and overcrowding as a result.
Longer journeys as a result of speed restrictions also reduce turnaround times which can lead to knock-on effects.
Other issues across the network include the ongoing problems around escalators at Cutty Sark station which has limited access for years.
TfL blamed a PFI contract which ran from 1999 for 25 years on the Lewisham extension from Island Gardens.
So Keolis have their work cut out despite many of those issues not being under their control. Perhaps one that is can be seen at Woolwich Arsenal station where the Powis Street entrance is often closed.
In the past staff shortages have been given as a reason.
Alistair Gordon, chief executive of Keolis UK, said: “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.”
Delaying the introduction of the new DLR trains until all safety concerns have been ironed out is the right decision. As safety has to be paramount on our public transport network.
I hope the operators can introduce the improvements they want want to make in 2025 to improve the services for passengers.
Fare evasion is a major issue for Transport For London on the DLR, Underground, Buses etc which cost Transport For London millions of pounds each year. Which TFL need to maintain services.
I think it’s a good idea to extend the DLR franchise to 2033 along with brand new DLR trains that are coming into service next year and the proposed Thamesmead extension as well. I have been on the DLR lots of times. And the DLR is so frequent, enjoyable and economical.