Serco handed DLR extension

Transport for London (TfL) has extended its contract with DLR operator Serco following a record-breaking summer for the service.

Serco will continue to be responsible for the operation of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) train services, maintenance of the majority of the network and maintenance of the DLR rolling stock for a further 18 months.

During the summer Olympic Games, the DLR carried 7.2 million passengers – more than double normal levels – transporting 500,000 people in just one day.

The extension, which is worth about £100m, will continue on the same terms as the original contract award in 2006 and will run from April 2013 to September 2014.

Serco has operated the DLR since 1997 and in 2012 was named ‘Light Rail Operator of the Year’.

DLR director Jonathan Fox said: “I am pleased to announce the extension of this contract and the continuation of a successful working partnership that has seen the DLR expand its network, increase its capacity by 50 per cent and successfully meet the challenge of the Olympics, when the network carried more than 100 per cent more customers than normal.”

The DLR celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, in which time it has seen passenger numbers increase from 6.7 million to 86 million a year.

David Stretch, managing director of Serco Docklands, said:  “We are extremely proud to have been awarded an extension to the Docklands contract.

“Serco has proved itself a trusted partner to Transport for London over 15 years, consistently improving service reliability on the DLR and achieving its best ever reliability in 2012.

“We look forward to another 18 months in which to deliver award-winning DLR services for London’s travelling public.”