Transport for London (TfL) has awarded KeolisAmey Docklands (KAD) a 4-year extension to their current contract to operate the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). The initial contract, due to expire on 31 March 2021, will run through to April 2025.
KAD has operated the DLR, the busiest light railway in the UK, on behalf of TfL since 7 December 2014 with priority objectives centred on performance excellence in all business areas, including operations, customer service and engineering.
During KAD’s tenure, passenger numbers have increased from 115 million journeys per year to a projected 124 million for 2019, all while maintaining consistent Customer Satisfaction Scores in the top two of TfL modes. Further evidence of KAD’s success came in 2019 when record-breaking levels of operational performance were delivered for the DLR.
KAD’s successful delivery of the DLR contract has been widely recognised in the industry with a number of accolades, including winning three Operator of the Year awards – London Transport Awards in March 2018, Rail Business Awards in February 2019 and most recently at the Global Light Rail Awards in October 2019.
This franchise extension will take us through the next phase of development for the DLR, with new trains arriving in 2023 and all associated depot extension and upgrade works taking place. Whilst maintaining high levels of performance, KAD is committed to support under collaborative working arrangements the seamless integration of the new DLR trains.
Alistair Gordon, CEO of Keolis UK said:
“We are proud to operate and maintain the DLR on behalf of Transport for London and are delighted to continue our DLR journey for at least another four years. This is recognition of the excellent work delivered by the team at KAD over the past five years and we look forward to continuing to provide the best possible service to passengers on this iconic network over the coming months and years.”
Abdellah Chajai, Managing Director of KeolisAmey Docklands, said:
“We are extremely proud to have been awarded an extension to the Docklands contract. KAD has proved itself a trusted partner to Transport for London, achieving consistently high levels of service reliability on the DLR with record performance in 2019. We look forward to the coming years and delivering continued improvements to the railway to ensure we provide the best possible services for London’s travelling public”.
This contract extension will generate a cumulative revenue of approximately £386 million.