by Mark Found

One of the first items down on my "want to do" list, and to be honest, I don't really know why. I guess it's the accessibility of the railway or something - I like the idea that you can sit in the front and look out of the window, I guess that's the boy in me. Mind you, lots of other people like the view as well, more often than not you'll find the seats already taken.

Having lived in London for years, and taken an interest in the whole Docklands development thing I've witnessed, at fairly close hand, the development of the DLR, and it really did have a terrible start in life. The trains were too small for the numbers of passengers wanting to use the railway, they were having to start re - building the railway almost as soon as they'd finished building it. Services were fairly hopeless for a 24/7 city, I remember being stranded at the Docklands Arena after a Pink Floyd concert because the trains stopped running at half past nine.

To its' credit the DLR has overcome any short comings that it may have had, and it's expanding rapidly. The ability to provide a relatively low cost means of transport has seen it expand across the river to Lewisham, and next on the list is Woolwich and the City Airport. I hate to appear wise after the event, but I do remember thinking when City Airport was opened why doesn't the railway run there? Still, better late than never.

Considering the apparent lack of personnel around the railway is clean and secure. I was lucky enough to get shown round the control room at Poplar and the lads who man it don't miss a trick - they were calling over the tannoy system to tell someone to put their cigarette out almost as soon as it was lit.

It's definitely an impressive railway, and I thoroughly recommend that you take a ride on it next time you're in the area. If you can manage it take a ride from Bank to Lewisham - you'll see the tunnel under the city, run alongside the mainline into Fenchurch Street, see some stunning views of Canary Wharf as you travel through the middle of it, go under the Thames to Greenwhich where you can see one of the boring machines and finish in Lewshiham having passed the lifting bridge on the main line to London over Deptford creek. Who could ask for more?

Trainspotting.links (will open in a new window)

www.dlr.co.uk
the Transport For London website
Light Rail Transit Authority
interesting stuff about light rail and tram systems
Docklands Light Rail
this is an enthusiasts site - but very well put together, worth a look