Thales (www.thalesgroup.com) has signed two new contracts to support the Docklands Light Railway, following a forecast of increased passenger demand on the network.

The updates will improve the DLR’s operational performance, while maintaining the on-time train reliability rate of 99% that it has historically delivered.

Both contracts will run until September 2024.

The first contract will be for the supply and integration of on-board control systems for a new fleet of 43 trains that TfL announced earlier this year. This contract is direct with the rolling-stock manufacturer CAF.

The second, with TfL, will be for DLR signalling system upgrades to the software sub systems that will also support the new trains.

These upgrades will help to deliver more capacity and increased reliability.

The DLR has been running on Thales’s SelTrac Communications Based Train Control technology since 1994, when it was successfully introduced on the Bank to Island Gardens section.

Since that time, Thales has worked closely with TfL as the DLR has expanded to support growth in east London.

In addition to working with the DLR, Thales is currently also modernising the London Underground.

The 4LM project involves upgrading the signalling on the Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines.

These lines make up around 40% of the London Underground, and the upgrades will increase their passenger capacity by an average of 33%.