Results tagged “DLR”

FREE shuttle buses will be provided for thousands of design show visitors to combat disruption by bank holiday rail closures.

Transport bosses warned travellers to anticipate longer journey times after DLR links around the Docklands were earmarked for closure – potentially cutting off the Grand Designs Live expo from thousands of its customers.

A spokeswoman for the show – which will form part of a major Channel 4 broadcast event – admitted the disruption would “prove a bit of a challenge” especially as the opening weekend will be packed with crowd-pulling celebrities.

Back-up plans have been put in place. Visitors will be bussed to ExCeL in Royal Docks. And the exhibition centre and Docklands Light Railway are laying on a taxi-rank shuttle every four to five minutes from Canning Town station following the suspension of the DLR for upgrading work.

FRUSTRATED Islanders waged war on rail replacement buses clogging their street – by blocking it with a tea party.

Residents passed around tea and sausage rolls in the middle of Saunders Ness Road on Sunday to disrupt the route of the double-decker buses, which were laid on as an alternative to the suspended Docklands Light Railway service.

Buses use the road as a turning point when the rail service is closed to make adjustments for expanded three-car DLR trains. But locals have complained about noise into the early morning and speeding buses.

Blackwall and Cubitt Town councillor Tim Archer said: “It was a very Isle of Dogs protest. We had a nice cup of tea and a sausage roll, and offered refreshments to the bus drivers, DLR representative and the police when they came down.
“It was a very civilised action, but with a serious point.”

Transport for London (TfL) has announced details of road closures and alterations to public transport on the day of the race.

Bus services on the Isle of Dogs and in south-east London will be subject to diversions and suspensions, some of which will take effect from 6.30am.

Affected routes include the D3, D7, D8, 100, 277, ELC and ELW. Passengers are advised to find alternative routes. Roads on the Isle of Dogs will close from 8am, reopening by 7pm.

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, took time out from his re-election campaign to officially unveil the new-look Docklands Light Railway trains.

Mr Livingstone was joined at West India Quay station this morning (Thursday, March 13) by Olympic athlete Dean Macey and officials from the Olympic Delivery Authority, including chief executive John Armitt. The new trains will form a key component of the 2012 Olympic transport infrastructure.

The carriages will start to be introduced from next month alongside existing two-carriage DLR rolling stock. Three carriage trains will be operational once platform extensions across the network are completed in 2012.

Mr Livingstone said: "These carriages will lead to an increase of 50 per cent capacity of the DLR and provide much more attractive modern trains.

"It's just such an improvement on the others, it makes them look a bit tacky now. It won't be long before we think of refurbishing the existing ones as these come into use."

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk

Christopher Cutler, 50, groped three passengers after sneaking up behind them on trains last year.

He was jailed for four months running consecutively for each assault, adding up to 12 months in prison when he appeared at Southwark Crown Court for sentencing last Friday (February 15).

Plans to pedestrianise the Aspen Way roundabout have been pushed forward due to the high number of attacks in the nearby underpass, a cut-through from Blackwall DLR station.

Blackwall and Cubitt Town councillor Phil Briscoe (Con) said a violent attack or robbery occurred every 37 days in the subway, many involving knives and guns.

Nearby resident Akhtar Hussain said: “As residents we know about the robberies and muggings. I know a few victims myself. People don’t use the underpass. They go over the top because they think someone will be waiting for them below. They’re scared.”

ISLE of Dogs roads have been brought to a standstill by a spate of maintenance closures.

Marsh Wall has been reduced to a one-way street as work began to expand South Quay DLR station.

Traffic has also been disrupted by closures at Manchester Road, Westferry Road and Spindrift Avenue.