The Extension of the Docklands Light Railway

by Paul Truelove, Aston Univ, United Kingdom,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Engineering and Business: Converting Engineers to Businessmen

Abstract:

The Docklands Light Railway is a publicly funded automated light rapid transit system that was opened in 1987, linking the fringe of the financial district of the City of London to an area of abandoned docks stretching downstream along the river Thames from the city. The railway was built with the intention of acting as a catalyst for re-development, and in this it has succeeded. Because the original route was designed as a low cost system, its city terminus at Tower Gateway is poorly located. The developers attracted to locate near stations along the route saw that it was to their advantage that the city terminus should be better located. This realisation occurred at the same time as the conservative British government was seeking to obtain private finance for public works, to assist in the government's policy of reducing public expenditure.

Subject Headings: Rail transportation | Automated transit systems | Urban and regional development | Rapid transit systems | Public policy | Urban areas | Public transportation | United Kingdom | Europe | London

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