KeolisAmey has been awarded a new eight year contract to run the Docklands Light Railway on behalf of Transport for London.

The consortium has already been running the DLR for the past decade, having taken over from Serco in December 2014.

The new contract is to start on 1 April 2025, and it includes a number of improvements including timetable changes, so that trains can run more frequently. There will also be new performance incentives intended to reduce fraudulent travel, which is a loss to TfL.

One hurdle which will need to be overcome is a problem with the signalling system, which is preventing the first of 54 new trains built by CAF entering service. The speed of existing trains is being reduced by 5km/h in places, as a first step towards making sure that the new fleet will be compatible.

The new trains are intended to replace 33 of the oldest units, while the remaining 21 will be used to increase the network’s capacity.

TfL’s general manager for the DLR Tom Page said: ‘I am looking forward to continuing to work with KeolisAmey. Over the next few years, customers will benefit from a number of improvements, including a fleet of new trains offering increased capacity and frequency, so the continuing support and new ideas KeolisAmey will bring will be invaluable.’