PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN LONDON DOCKLANDS: THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?

This article looks at the changes which have taken place in London's Docklands area since 1981, and the ways in which the provision of a public transport infrastructure and the enormous scale of development have stimulated each other, producing further growth in transport demand. A number of transport projects are considered: (1) the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which originally was planned to link the Isle of Dogs to Central London and Stratford. Capacity in early 1990 was about 1600 passengers/hour per direction on each branch; this will increase in July 1990 to 3000 passengers/hour on the City branch when double length trains are introduced, and this line's ultimate capacity is now planned to be 12000 passengers/hour; (2) in response to developments at Canary Wharf creating further transport demand, the new Jubilee Line extension is scheduled to begin construction in 1991, for completion in 1995; this line will link the Isle of Dogs with Waterloo; (3) a southern extension of the DLR has been designed, with links to Greenwich and Lewisham, connecting to British Rail North Kent services; (4) at the Royal Docks a DLR link is planned to Beckton, together with a new internal road network this will improve good transport links and provide for future demand; (5) bus services are seen in short term supplementary role until the opening of the Jubilee Line extension.