DLR tells users works will have "immediate effect"
DLR passengers have been promised an "immediate effect" on their journeys following the network's extended closure for improvements.
New sections of track at Poplar and Canning Town are to be linked into the existing network, prompting a nine-day closure of stations linking East India to Prince Regent and London City Airport.
As reported in The Wharf last week, the works will hit services from Saturday, May 23, and affect four working days. But head of development and planning Rob Niven argued DLR users would notice improved journey times from June 1.
He said: "Passengers will see the immediate effect of the works we've been undertaking, and there's a comprehensive bus service replacing the line for nine days.
"Certainly when we introduce a new timetable in the summer following this work, they will see the benefits."
The extended maintenance closure has been prompted by the DLR's ongoing project to upgrade to three-car trains. A fly-over at Canning Town and a fly-under at the Delta Junction between Poplar and West India Quay is being integrated into the network, allowing trains travelling from different routes to pass each other without stopping.
The new track is the latest step towards launching three-car services between Bank and Lewisham early next year, and could also give DLR the ability to run direct trains into Canary Wharf from Beckton and Woolwich Arsenal if there is sufficient demand.
A total of 8,500 passengers travel to and from London City Airport on an average weekday, and 6,000 make the same trip on an average Bank Holiday. DLR believes this demand will drop during late-May as families will be on holiday during half-term.
A replacement bus will run every five minutes on the affected weekdays to all stops between Prince Regent and East India, while another will serve all stops between Prince Regent and Canning Town before heading direct to Canary Wharf. A similar service has been arranged on the London City Airport line, and replacement buses will also be provided over the weekend and Bank Holiday.
No services will run to and from Woolwich Arsenal station, but DLR tickets will be valid on Southeastern trains between the station and Greenwich and Lewisham.
Many of the airport buses will be bendy buses, as they can accommodate more people and luggage.
Mr Niven said: "There has been a lot of hard work that's gone into planning the bus replacement service.
"We think people will find the buses we've planned very useful, particularly the direct service to Canary Wharf."
For further information, go to improvements.dlr.co.uk
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Replacement buses every 5 minutes? As if. Every weekend when TFL effects its usual exiling of East London the replacement buses run every 20-25 minutes tops. Not that they tell you that, of course. They just let you get on and then sit there until you run out of patience.....
"Many of the airport buses will be bendy buses, as they can accommodate more people and luggage."
I hope not! they will get stuck trying to negotiate the tight bends out the front of the Airport!
What are Oyster PAYG users supposed to do if they want to go to Woolwich?
The official advice is to use Southeastern trains, but (AFAIK) they don't accept Oyster PAYG...
The information provided by Mr. Niven is apparently incorrect.
I have yesterday (27/05) spoken to an agent at the DLR Helpdesk Option No. 7, who told me that "no such (i.e. following Mr. Niven's statement) change would be noticeable, and certainly not immediately."
The helpdesk has today (28/05) again confirmed that the change would indeed not be "immediately visible."
Lastly, there are hardly any bendy buses along Silvertown Way at all, as I can guarantee and swear by.
Can someone cast any light?
The information provided by Mr. Niven is apparently inaccurate.
I yesterday (27/05) spoke to an agent at the DLR Helpline Desk 020 7363 9700 Option No 7, who informed me that despite the statement in question, there would "be no such (i.e. as stated by Mr. Niven) change immediately noticeable, at least not until 2011."
I have this morning spoken to another agent who echoed those views, that no change, and certainly no increase in service and frequency would be apparent.
Lastly, there are absolutely no bendy buses along Silvertown Way to LCY, to which fact I can swear, as I live there.
Can The Wharf investigate?
I am annoyed at the bus replacement service. Their bus drivers suck.
I just arrived into Prince Regent by train. And we were told we had to take a bus replacement. All the passgenger went down the the bus, which was empty except for a couple of passengers, but instead of waiting for us to come down the stairs he just drove off near empty!
So all the passengers were fustrated and angry and we had to wait another 7 minutes for the next bus.
Why can't the integrate the bus pick up with the train arrivals?