DLR upgrade completed, Thameslink milestone passed

TfL has today announced the completion of a £325m project to expand the capacity of the DLR across the network, by converting all of the stations and track for use by three car trains. The new trains began running between Beckton and Tower Gateway yesterday, while the Lewisham upgrade was completed last year. The release states:

The Docklands Light Railway’s (DLR) three-car upgrade was completed on time and within budget with the launch of three-car trains on the Tower Gateway to Beckton route. The £325m upgrade also includes longer platforms, improved track and signalling, £13m of improvements to Tower Gateway station and an entire new station at South Quay. Fifty-five new carriages costing £100m (£80m from TfL and £20m from the Olympic Delivery Authority) were also commissioned.

In related news, the Thameslink upgrade of London Bridge passed a key milestone last week, with the installation of a huge new bridge across Borough High Street. London Reconnections has the pictures.