The first new Docklands Light Railway (DLR) carriage part-funded by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has been delivered to Stratford station.

The ODA and Transport for London (TfL) contributed £20m each for 22 new carriages in preparation for increased DLR services during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Prior to the Games, the carriages will be used to help form the three-car trains that DLR will introduce from early 2010. The carriages will also be used to aid capacity on DLR's most recent extension, to Woolwich Arsenal, and future Stratford International extension, opening summer 2010.

-- Advertisement --

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "This cracking new carriage is just a small part of a crucial investment in the DLR so that it will be able to cope with the many thousands of extra passengers the line will carry during London 2012. But the really great thing about these carriages is that Londoners can already benefit from them three years before the Games even begin."

DLR has ordered 55 new rail carriages at almost £2m each. 33 had been delivered, all funded by TfL, with most now in service. The part-funded ODA carriages form the remaining 22 and will begin to enter service from next month to autumn 2010.

The 55 carriages will see the DLR fleet grow from 94 to 149.

(CD/BMcC)