Editing Docklands Light Railway (section)

===Extensions to the City and the Royal Docks (1991–1994)===
[[File:Tower Gateway DLR station 3.jpg|thumb|right|The view from {{stl|DLR|Tower Gateway}} looking east prior to rebuilding shows {{Stnlnk|Fenchurch Street}} approach tracks to the left and the DLR line in the centre. Just visible in the distance is a DLR train that has emerged from the tunnel to {{stl|London Underground|Bank}} to the right.]]
The initial system had a relatively low capacity, but the Docklands area very quickly developed into a major financial centre and employment zone, increasing traffic. In particular Tower Gateway, at the edge of the City of London, attracted criticism for its poor connections, as it did not connect directly with the nearby [[Tower Hill tube station]] or [[Fenchurch Street railway station]]. The criticism arose partly because the system usage was higher than expected.<ref name="statement">{{cite web|url=http://www.london2012.com/blog/2009/01/13/new-games-transport-link-marks-20-years-of-dlr-progress.php |title=New Games transport link marks 20 years of progress |publisher=London 2012 Official Blog |date=13 January 2009 |access-date=24 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528013329/http://london2012.com/blog/2009/01/13/new-games-transport-link-marks-20-years-of-dlr-progress.php |archive-date=28 May 2009 }}</ref> Plans were developed, before the system opened, to extend it to {{stl|London Underground|Bank}} in the west and [[Beckton]] in the east.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1987/may/06/docklands-light-railway#S6CV0115P0_19870506_CWA_30 |title=Hansard Written Answers |date=6 May 1987 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006063136/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1987/may/06/docklands-light-railway#S6CV0115P0_19870506_CWA_30 |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |archive-date=6 October 2012 }}</ref> Stations and trains were extended to two-unit length, and the system was expanded into the heart of the City of London to {{stl|London Underground|Bank}} through a tunnel, which opened in 1991 at a cost of £295{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnplus.co.uk/news/16feb90-uk-ben-roskrow-reports-on-nuttalls-extension-of-the-docklands-light-railway-(1-of-2)/1689334.article |title=Ben Roskrow reports on Nuttal's extension of the Docklands Light Railway |newspaper=Construction News |date=16 February 1990 |access-date=25 June 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928121337/http://www.cnplus.co.uk/news/16feb90-uk-ben-roskrow-reports-on-nuttalls-extension-of-the-docklands-light-railway-(1-of-2)/1689334.article |archive-date=28 September 2010 }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Butcher |first=Louise |date=4 May 2010 |title=Railways: Docklands Light Railway (DLR) |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN00415/SN00415.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609175238/http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN00415/SN00415.pdf |archive-date=2015-06-09 |url-status=live |access-date=19 March 2022 |website=[[House of Commons Library]]}}</ref> This extension left {{stl|DLR|Tower Gateway}} on a stub.

The original trains were not suitable for underground usage due to not meeting the fire safety laws for underground trains.<ref name="McCarthy2009p12" /> They were operated for a time on the above-ground sections only, and [[#Rolling stock|were later sold]].

As the [[Canary Wharf]] office complex grew, [[Canary Wharf DLR station]] was redeveloped from a small wayside station to a large one with six platforms serving three tracks and a large overall roof, fully integrated into the malls below the office towers.<ref name="history one">{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/dlr/history/2982.aspx |title=DLR history timeline |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=3 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930190323/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/dlr/history/2982.aspx |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref>

The east of [[London Docklands|Docklands]] needed better transport connections to encourage development, and a fourth branch, towards [[Beckton]], was planned, with several route options available.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lddc-history.org.uk/transport/3tran15.jpg |title=Options for the DLR Beckton Extension route |publisher=London Docklands Development Corporation |access-date=23 February 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207140704/http://www.lddc-history.org.uk/transport/3tran15.jpg |archive-date=7 February 2012 }}</ref> A route from {{stl|DLR|Poplar}} via {{stl|London Underground|Canning Town}} and the north side of the Royal Docks complex was chosen, and opened in March 1994 at a cost of £280{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="20CentLondon"/> Initially it was thought the line was likely to be underutilised, due to the sparse development in the area<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/architecture-a-driverless-train-a-blighted-destination-a-railway-deep-into-londons-docklands-emphasises-the-potential-yet-to-be-realised-in-the-east-says-gillian-widdicombe-1432567.html |title=Architecture: A driverless train, a blighted destination |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=24 June 2009 |location=London |first=Gillian |last=Widdicombe |date=30 March 1994 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118214052/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/architecture-a-driverless-train-a-blighted-destination-a-railway-deep-into-londons-docklands-emphasises-the-potential-yet-to-be-realised-in-the-east-says-gillian-widdicombe-1432567.html |archive-date=18 January 2012 }}</ref> and for this reason two additional stations at Thames Wharf (not to be confused with the later Thames Wharf proposal on the Woolwich branch) and Connaught were omitted.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Map showing the Docklands Light Rail proposed extensions to Beckton and Lewisham, issued 1992 |url=https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/collections-online/maps/item/1996-2239 |access-date=28 March 2022 |website=London Transport Museum |language=en}}</ref> As part of this extension, one side of the original flat triangular junction was replaced by a [[grade separation|grade-separated]] junction west of Poplar. Poplar was rebuilt to give [[cross-platform interchange]] between the Stratford and Beckton lines, with a new grade-separated junction built east of the station at the divergence of the Stratford and Beckton lines. As part of the extension, a new, larger, depot was built at [[Beckton DLR depot|Beckton]].