Mayor opens DLR extension to Woolwich

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today officially opened a £180m extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Woolwich Arsenal, an important milestone in Woolwich’s regeneration plans.

The extension has opened seven weeks ahead of schedule linking King George V station and the extensive DLR network on the north of the river with a brand new station at Woolwich Arsenal in the south. It has been funded by Transport for London's (TfL) multi-billion pound Investment Programme.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: 'Woolwich has long lacked the transport links that encourage the creation of new jobs, homes and shops. The extension will also play an important role in the Olympic transport network.'

Key benefits of the completed extension include:

• Improved transport links, connecting Woolwich to London City Airport in six minutes, Canary Wharf in 20 minutes, Stratford in 23 minutes and Bank in 28 minutes. In the peak period, trains will leave every six to seven minutes

• Assistance with the ongoing regeneration of Woolwich and the southern Royal Docks by supporting the creation of new jobs, homes, shops and leisure facilities along the route

• Better access to employment, education and leisure facilities for the communities of Woolwich, Silvertown and North Woolwich

• Direct interchange with overground services at Woolwich Arsenal mainline station

• Bus, taxi and riverboat services all within walking distance

London's Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy said: 'This extension delivers a another much needed north-south transport link for this under served area of London.'