Dockland’s Light Railway increases train frequency alongside other improvements
World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, will benefit from an improved transport service at WTM 2010.
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has just completed successful testing of increasing the frequency of trains to every two minutes 30 seconds during peak times of WTM 2010.
This means there will be as many as 24 trains an hour serving ExCeL, London during the busiest times.
In 2009, the DLR frequency was every three minutes during peak times meaning there will be an extra four trains every hour for WTM 2010.
In 2008 the peak time frequency of the DLR was every 3.3 minutes.
Furthermore, Transport for London will continue with its problem solving Travel Hub at Canning Town Station, which it introduced for World Travel Market last year.
The ‘Hub’ assesses the wider issues on the transport network which may affect routes to and from World Travel Market (Monday November 8 to Thursday November 11).
Should there be any problems that may affect routes to World Travel Market, the Hub can act to minimise any potential disruption, while also improving communication with TfL officials at Canning Town.
TfL Travel Hubs are only employed for major events, such as last April’s G20 meeting at ExCeL, London, demonstrating the importance of World Travel Market.
World Travel Market Exhibition Director Simon Press said: “It is great new there will an even more frequent service to and from ExCeL, London for WTM 2010.
“I would like to thank TfL for recognising the importance of World Travel Market and making special arrangements, including testing the improved service DLR service before WTM, to improve the transport experience for delegates using public transport to attend the event.
“The successful testing of DLR trains every two minutes 30 seconds during peak times will be further supported by the Transport Hub, which was introduced for World Travel Market last year with great success.”
In addition, World Travel Market will continue to run its bendy bus transfer service to and from Caning Town and ExCeL, London alongside the DLR trains.
Each of the bendy buses in operation will be able to ferry 150 delegates to WTM 2010. The bendy buses were introduced in 2009 replacing double decker buses, which can only carry 85 people.
River Thames commuter boat operator Thames Clippers is also operating catamarans every 10 minutes for this year’s event. The catamarans pick delegates up from a number of piers along the Thames and drop them off at Canary Wharf where buses will take people to WTM.
Press added: “Transport experience to WTM 2009 was vastly improved due to the Travel Hub, the introduction of bendy bus transfers to the venue and an increased service by Thames Clippers.
“For 2010 World Travel Market has done all it can to offer delegates as smooth a journey to the event as possible.”
