Transport for LondonDLR management
DLR and Serco
Serco Docklands operates and maintains the DLR network as part of a franchise agreement. Serco can additionally be asked to assist in project management and has the opportunity to put forward and fund projects which may improve the efficiency of operation or maintenance.
View the DLR Franchise Agreement with Serco Docklands (PDF 539KB)
DLRL owns the railway infrastructure apart from the Lewisham Extension.
The companies who designed, financed, built and now maintain the London City Airport extension - City Airport Rail Enterprises plc (CARE) and the Woolwich Arsenal extension - Woolwich Arsenal Rail Enterprises Ltd (WARE) were purchased by us in 2011.
The Stratford International Extension is maintained by COLAS Rail Ltd. COLAS Rail Ltd is also responsible for maintaining the City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal Extensions under maintenance contracts to CARE and WARE.
The Lewisham extension is currently owned by City Greenwich Lewisham Rail Link plc (CGLR) who are also responsible for maintaining the extension under a concession agreement until 2021 when ownership reverts to DLRL.
Management history
When originally constructed in 1987, DLR was a wholly-owned subsidiary of London Regional Transport.
Privatisation
In 1991, the British Government announced that, from March 1992, responsibility of DLR would transfer to the umbrella of the London Docklands Development Corporation, sponsored by the Department of Environment.
In October 1994, the Secretary of State for the Environment announced that 'the Government would privatise the DLR in line with its 1992 Manifesto commitment'.
Agreement with Serco
Serco was awarded a new seven-year franchise in May 2006. The franchise has been extended and will run to September 2014.
Fees paid to Serco
Serco is paid a set fee for operating the railway to agreed levels of service and is entitled to part of the revenue received.
Service standards and revenue entitlements are agreed during the franchise tender process.
Standards include performance against agreed targets covering:
- Service departures
- Service reliability
- Facilities (lifts, escalators, ticket machines and information displays)
- Performance in quarterly customer satisfaction surveys
All of these targets carry financial rewards or penalties, depending on performance. Serco has consistently met or exceeded the vast majority of these targets.
Schedules
- Schedule 1 - Grant of franchise (PDF 219KB)
- Schedule 2 - Passenger services (PDF 195KB)
- Schedule 3 - Tickets/Ticketing schemes (PDF 234KB)
- Schedule 4 - Maintenance of franchise assets (PDF 300KB)
- Schedule 5 - Capital projects (PDF 844KB)
- Schedule 6 - General regulatory (PDF 88KB)
- Schedule 7 - Provision of information (PDF 725KB)
- Schedule 8 - Remuneration (PDF 51KB)
- Schedule 9 - Financial requirements (PDF 22KB)
- Schedule 10 - Handback of franchise (PDF 497KB)
- Schedule 11 - Dispute resolution procedure (PDF 254KB)
- Schedule 12 - Documents (PDF 5.1MB)
- Schedule 13 - Franchisee confidential information (PDF 10KB)
- Schedule 16 - Committed obligation (PDF 47KB)
- Schedule 17 - Agreed Policies/Plans (PDF 83KB)
Concession agreements
- CGLR concession agreement (PDF 0.98MB)
- Care concession agreement February 2003 (PDF 11.33MB)
- Woolwich Arsenal Rail Enterprises Limited concession agreement (PDF 2.08MB)
