Transport for London's (TfL) Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has confirmed funding for an £18.2m upgrade which will increase capacity by 50 per cent on its Beckton route in time for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The funding means upgrade work can start on the Beckton branch which serves Olympic and Paralympic venue, ExceL, before the end of the year making the entire DLR network three-car ready by early 2011.

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TfL's London Rail Managing Director, Ian Brown, met representatives of the agencies which contributed to the funding package - the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), the London Development Agency (LDA) and the Housing and Communities Agency (HCA) - at the DLR Prince Regent Station.

Mr Brown said: "We were concerned that the Beckton line was the only line where funding was not in place to upgrade to three-car operation.

"It is a route which is growing fast as it serves the ExCeL exhibition and conference centre and the University of East London.

"The funding partners have all come together to allow this route to be converted before the Games, so adding the last piece of the jigsaw to complete the DLR upgrade.

"It really does show commitment to ensuring that this route is capable of meeting future demand."

(CD/JM)