DLR - victim of its own success?
Woolwich DLR’s first week of business was a resounding success – but it has left many commuters seething.
Mayor Boris Johnson opened the service last week and thousands used it to get to areas such as Canary Wharf, London City Airport and central London.
However, many attempting to get on down the line have had their morning travel heavily disrupted by the increase in users.
James Booth, a Britannia Village resident who commutes from West Silvertown to his job at Cable and Wireless, said: “By the time the train gets to us it is so packed you just can’t get on. People are having to get the bus instead and I can’t see it getting any better.
“It will get worse with more people using it because of more flights at City Airport. And the three car extension is not coming in until 2010, so it certainly doesn’t look good.�
Others from Britannia Village put their complaints on a residents’ message board.
One wrote: “Yesterday I waited 17 minutes for the DLR and then couldn’t get on two of them because they were rammed. Had to get the bus this morning as it was too packed again.�
Another added: “It’s not going to get better until Tower Gateway reopens.
Transport for London is running DLR on the same timetable – one every 10 minutes – but the amount of people they are ferrying is much greater. It does not make sense at all.�
DLR has tried to reduce the problems on the line by increasing the peak hours to between 6.30am and 10am.
However, it will not be able to make any more changes until Tower Gateway reopens in early March.
DLR spokeswoman Sarah Allen said: “We are aware it’s been very crowded so we’ve changed the service. We’re restricted in what we can do until Tower Gateway reopens.�
More than 14,000 people per day were estimated to have used Woolwich last week.
Ms Allen added: “We know everyone was watching carefully to see what happened with this.
“It was very successful last week with thousands travelling through. However, that number is anticipated to reduce slightly.�
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The problem is going to get worse with more expansion at London City Airport. Also, if people read the London City Airport's Planning Application Report you will see that the DLR wanted £10m for extra trains, but the City Airport did not agree to this.
The overcrowding, means that they could pull trains off the Beckton line?
Given the sucess of the Woolwich, it seems crazy that Boris cancelled the building of DLR extension to Dagenham Dock. Boris is only looking out for West London. Just as he wanted airport expansion at London City Airport, but uses all his energy to block expansion at Heathrow.
As a frequent user of the DLR from Blackwall I am furious and disappointed about the new Station at Woolwich. Since it was opened all users have suffered. There have been numerous issues. There are limited trains still and the trains that are working are packed. It is impossible to get on if you live around Canary Wharf! It is a disaster for the users that have had access to it for years! The DLR has turned into the Central line! Few trains and too many people. A service that we have to pay for too! I have tried to call the DLR numerous times but they do not pick up. What a surprise. We as passengers need an outlet to complain as nothing will ever improve! It is ridiculous that a new station is opened and there are still too few trains to manage the rush hours!
A campaign against this incompetence needs to be started!