TfL Customer Services: 4th Floor, 14 Pier Walk, London SE10 0ES
Phone: 0343 222 1234
Website: www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/dlr/ or @LondonDLR
Not quite a tram, tube or train, it’s simply the Docklands Light Railway, a nifty little thing that makes getting to places like Greenwich Village and City Airport easy and cheap. Launched in 1987 with a modest 11 trains and only 15 stations, the regeneration of the Docklands area has seen it grow to seven lines covering 45 stations and counting, serving over 100 million passengers a year. Serving the east and Southeast of the city, it is pretty much as pleasant as London public transport gets. It’s reliable, less noisy than the tube, generally less crowded and it’s pretty well air-conditioned. The DLR is also fully automated and most of the time there is no driver, meaning that you can take the front seat and pretend that you’re actually driving the thing.
The DLR provides a key service for London’s suits, with the Bank to Canary Wharf journey taking just over ten minutes. For normal people, Canary Wharf also makes an interesting/unusual weekend destination. Almost completely deserted, a stroll amongst the abandoned skyscrapers is a strangely satisfying way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
As on the rest of London’s public transport you’re best off with an Oyster card. One thing to remember is that there are no barriers at DLR stations and instead Oyster readers are located at station exits and entrances. To avoid getting slapped with a fine and to ensure you’re charged the right amount, remember to touch in and out correctly. The prices are similar to the tube, so cash works out more expensive (though not as expensive as the tube’s cash single).
The DLR runs 5.30 am–12.30 am (Sundays 7.00 am–11.30 pm), with train frequencies depending on the time of day. On weekdays, trains run as often as every three-and-a-half minutes during peak times, and every five to ten minutes during off-peak times and weekends. The DLR is closed Christmas.