Stevie wrote:
Anyone know how 'too schedule' the City Airport extension project is on
the DLR at the moment?

I notice that the Beckton branch is closed all weekend from 7pm last
night to start of service Monday morning for testing on the City Airport
branch - presumbly this is just testing around the Canning Town junction
as I can't believe they've already got the whole line down ready for
complete testing?

If I remember rightly, the Lewisham extension was opened 4 months early
- due to open March 2000 and actually opened in November 1999. Is the
City Airport extension also running ahead of schedule?

I think the City Airport extension is due to open in November this year
- could we actually see it working this summer though instead?

I went down there in late December and took some photos, some of which
are on my website at http://www.alwaystouchout.com/project/9.

The viaduct was complete between Canning Town and just short of London
City Airport station, although the descending ramp from the station down
to the ground had been constructed. (The station itself hadn't been
started.) I didn't see the section between LCY and King George V.

I'm not sure how much (if any) track-laying has been done. West
Silvertown station was only about half-complete, and Pontoon Dock
station hadn't really been started.

I'd guess that the testing work was merely on the junction. The
scheduled opening date is 16 December this year; I think everything is
running to schedule but I've no idea whether they can complete it early.
The most difficult infrastructure (the viaducts) is already in place, so
it may be possible.

--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London