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Londoners are famously impatient, so who knows how they’re going to react when they find out one of their train services is going to have to run more slowly. This is exactly what’s happening with the DLR, which has just got new speed restrictions. But why?
Engineers found the DLR trains were going too fast on some sections of track, so they have had to slow them down. During the review of the signalling system, TfL discovered that there wasn’t enough of a safety margin between the speed of the trains and the maximum recommended speed.
TfL said the trains never went over the recommended track speed, but most sections have now been reduced by 5km per hour.
While this is good news for safety, it means journeys on the DLR might now take a bit longer than usual. Signs have been posted outside DLR stations explaining that speed reductions might alter the train’s usual service and frequencies.
TfL’s general manager for the DLR Tom Page said: ‘Following a review of our signalling system we identified a pre-existing technical issue, which meant there were a number of places where there is not enough margin between maximum recommended speed and the speed of the trains.
‘For the continued safe operation of the network, we decided to reduce the speed at these locations. The DLR continues to be one of the safest light rail networks in the country.’
Time Out and London trains
Millions of us rely on London’s transport network to get around the city every day – so, naturally, we at Time Out keep up on transport news in the capital. Did you see recently that loads of south London train lines will be closed during October half term? Plus, London is getting 24 new air-conditioned trams and only one London airport is officially ‘recommended’ by Which?.