KeolisAmey Docklands, a joint venture formed between Keolis (70%) and Amey (30%), was awarded the franchise in July 2014 to operate and maintain the Docklands Light Railway in London. We have now secured a new eight-year contract, extending our responsibility for the DLR until 2033.
Under this renewed agreement, we will see the JV continue to build on the strong foundations of collaboration developed with Transport for London and invest in accelerating the network’s social value for customers, colleagues and its communities.
This will mean cleaner trains and stations, more reliable lifts and escalators, more efficient and reliable station maintenance and faster passenger journeys. The network’s current 99 per cent reliability record will also be maintained – ensuring it remains one of the best performing railways in the UK.
KAD will also introduce 54 new trains onto the system over the course of the new contract.
Alistair Gordon, chief executive of Keolis UK, said: “We’re proud of the role we’ve played in establishing the DLR as the gold standard for automated light rail networks across the world.
“Now we’re laser-focused on making the network even better. That will involve investing in our communities, customers and colleagues, working closely with TfL and implementing the latest technologies available to drive improvements in the system. We’re fortunate to be in a place to be able to improve the system through our expertise and experience taken from operating systems all over the world.
“This is an exciting time for DLR passengers and we’re looking forward to seeing what the course of the new contract brings for the network.”
The DLR has grown to become the UK’s busiest light rail network. It carries an average of 122 million passengers each year and employs 860 people.
Since taking over, KeolisAmey Docklands has introduced a range of improvements to the network spanning customer service, operations and physical infrastructure. Working closely with Transport for London, the partners have succeeded in maintaining the network’s industry-leading 99% departures record, while boosting customer satisfaction to an annual rate of 89%, an all-time high for the network.
The DLR began operating in 1987, with 11 trains serving 15 stations and in its first year of operation it carried 6.7m people. Today the railway – which is entirely step-free – has 45 stations, 40km of track and during 2018, it carried a record-breaking 124 million passengers.
KeolisAmey Docklands became the operator of the network on 7 December 2014.
Key facts:
Passenger Transport Authority: Transport for London (TfL)
The network is 40 km long
Since we took over the Lewisham Extension on 1 April 2021, KAD is now responsible for all 45 DLR stations
Automated light metro system
SelTrac CBTC supplied by Thales
50 metro trainsets (149 metro cars) built by Bombardier
New trains include 54 five-car trains built by CAF
122 million passenger journeys per year
860 employees