More Secrets of the DLR

[@jimmeade2976]

I was a member of the engineering team that built the original DLR in 1985-86-87. It's nice to see how it has grown from "The Little Railway".

[@appybignumbers]

You're joking

[@HammerLex77]

I vividly remember watching the DLR track being laid in the mid 80s and getting so excited about it all. It was a stones throw from my house in Bow. My Dad and I woke up really early on opening day and I was the first person to get on the Westbound DLR at Devons Road. Some older bloke who was on the platform tried so hard to get his foot on the train first but I beat him to it! 😂 I was 10 and have a picture somewhere of that morning as well as the tickets. We travelled up to Island Gardens and then made our way back home. Happy memories. 😀

[@Spacebug111]

Nice 👍

[@grinned2death]

I know you joke about adding a seating wheel to the front, but on the Copenhagen Metro (Which if it isn't the same to the DLR stock it's very similar), they've stuck stickers representing buttons and switches on the panel on a front so you can pretend to press them. My partner wasn't the most pleased when I sat jamming my finger on them at every station!

[@erik_griswold]

The trains in Copenhagen were made by Ansaldo, later AnsaldoBreda and now Hitachi Rail Italy.

[@jamesneilsongrahamloveinth1301]

Nick Slater, If my recollection of Copenhagen is correct, there is no risk of anyone falling onto the track since the station platforms are protected with screens and automatic doors, as will be the case with the Elizabeth Line. I guess it is technically not feasible to retro-fit the tube with life-saving screens and doors. More's the pity . . .

[@ianmoseley9910]

James Neilson Graham People would whinge about 'nanny state' and complain about the cost coming out their fares

[@noxis93]

@@tomeklecocq I love how the sign says it's reserved to kids.

[@gabri_maybe]

Erik Griswold Copenhagen Metro Is Controlled By ATM Milano Which,No Surprise,Has Ansaldobreda Stocks

[@DavidWilliams-km5xu]

I love the DLR. It's the sort of system you need in other cities and towns across Britain. Totally revamped east london..

[@qjtvaddict]

Try building through lines and reroute intercity regional rail trains via the new through lines

[@mattg5878]

The DLR is strange. It’s like the Disneyworld monorail. Slow, small, doesn’t seem to go anywhere useful

[@mattg5878]

@@ay_kay_en 🤣😂

[@daroldcarold3443]

Ive never been on the dlr and there’s probably nothing special about it. Smh overrated funny

[@sweet813one]

@@mattg5878 I mean it was created when the docks closed as cargo moved to Tilbury. When the docks were redeveloping, the corporation had a semi medium budget, and it was overwhelmingly popular among the people.

[@CarlosLR2310]

I really love these videos about the tube, overground or dlr. They remind me of the time I lived in the most superb city in the world, London. I'm Chilean, studied at UCL and still miss London.

[@kensonantoine]

Dude, your videos helped me so much as a visitor to London for the Three months I've been there. Your on point accuracy made me feel like I'm a Londoner. Thank you Geoff

[@geofftech2]

So, I did the easter egg thing OF COURSE! You know what to do.. right? Type it in the comments when you've worked it out!

[@no1fanofthepals]

What Easter egg?

[@LuckyGamerRBLX]

Nope didn't see anything give us a clue geoff

[@Trains_At_York]

Was it that you could see the new station on the DMI or that there is going to be a new station with houses?

[@mrcreator7242]

Rockwell?

[@tobyskinner94]

Rockwell?

[@frankieroberto9603]

My favourite little known fact about the DLR is that many (all?) stations have what looks like an arbitrary red line on the ground. This denotes the “compulsory ticket area”, beyond which you need a ticket (or to have touched in). It dates back to the original opening, when there were fears over fare dodging as no stations were to have staff or ticket barriers.

[@thorsteinj]

Natural communicator. So many things we just love about the DLR.

[@K-o-R]

Pudding Mill Lane is one of the few DLR stations I _have_ actually used, as it was closer than walking back to Stratford after visiting the Olympic Park and the Orbit. Pontoon Dock is the place to be if you want to go see the Thames Barrier up close. There's an entire dry dock that has been converted into a huge ornamental garden next to it.

I would travel to those stations just for the names. Specially Pudding Mill. It's just... wholesome.

[@michaelmonn9308]

Hi Geoff, thanks for all of the great videos! I'm from America and visited London in September 2018 for a week. Flew into London City Airport, Stayed in the Stratford area and made extensive use of the tube and DLR lines. I appreciate your sharing the local knowledge and watched quite a few of your videos prior to my visit.

[@pureheartx3576]

6:54 It says : A DLR T

[@amberlewis012]

who uses london city airport...

[@michaelmonn9308]

@@amberlewis012 LOL, apparently a lot of business commuters. I did it because of it's close proximity to the DLR & ease of access to Stratford. It was actually cheaper that flying into Heathrow (which was the real surprise). It worked out great.

[@mudchute4dlr]

@@pureheartx3576 yeah

[@topmark99]

Good timing. I've been using the DLR between Lewisham and Bank this week due to the Bexleyheath line closure. And I bagged a front seat on Tuesday!

[@benjaminchilly6507]

Trying to get the front seat of the DLR is like trying to be first to watch Geoff's video. Great video!

[@rchung9408]

The DLR Pudding Mill Lane station and adjacent bridges have a special meaning to me. When before the Crossrail was built, the DLR Pudding Mill Lane Station and the bridges had to be relocated. I was responsible for the check of structural engineering design of the new station and bridges. The project was not small and I still put it on my CV these days.

[@paultidd9332]

Another great video Geoff, more please. I like the way the DLR suddenly brakes at corners a little like a fairground ride.

[@Gpcas9]

70 Steps later ;-) How many floors is that? Must be nearly 15 ;-)

[@cedriclynch]

Try Hampstead Underground. The stairs have 320 steps and a warning notice to the effect that should you use them you might drop dead before you get to the top.

[@clickrick]

@@cedriclynch That'll also be 15 storeys, then.

[@dx_ream9277]

Cedric Lynch r/wooosh

[@milkandduckrailway323]

How many steps at bus stops?

[@ewanrpj3512]

Here At Stanford International We Have A 15 Story Building For An Escalator

[@6yjjk]

6:05 On the Metro in Copenhagen, they have stickers with train controls so that kids (of all ages) can pretend to drive. DLR is definitely missing a trick here!

[@bakedsodium6528]

It’s always a good day, when Geoff uploads a new Secrets video

[@ZGryphon]

I'm up for _DLR Exits You Didn't Know Were There,_ even though, being utterly unfamiliar with the DLR and indeed London, they're _all_ exits I didn't know were there. :) (Also, you're a braver man than I am, sitting on those filthy stairs at 3:00.)

[@sagnikgangopadhyay4687]

I love the plastic steering wheel idea. I am a big kid!! 😂 (Not a London resident, in fact never been to London; would love to visit in the future)

[@cedriclynch]

It might feel just like the steering wheels in some modern cars with power steering.

[@sagnikgangopadhyay4687]

@@cedriclynch yup you are right!! Very similar!!

[@roberthuron9160]

New York has the equivalent to the DLR,but not as long! If you go to Jamaica Station,on the Long Island Railroad,and go upstairs,there is the Port Authority Air Train,(built by Bombardier), which goes to JFK Airport. It covers the terminal area,and also connects to the Howard Beach subway station( on the A line - to the Rockaways,)! There is an extra fare,and it takes somewhat of the long way round,but it is scenic,and Southern Queens isn't too bad looking either! This is one of New York's lesser known lines! Also there is a line operated in Newark Airport,which connects on New Jersey Transit out of Penn Station,as a variation on the theme! New York needs to have a good comprehensive all connected transit system,as London or Berlin,but has a long way to go! Thanks for the information,and keep up the good work!😇😀👍👍👍👏

[@Herminator296]

This is literally the best video series on youtube, ever!

[@marc21091]

Thank you. The variety of entrance and exit types - including ones not signed - makes the DLR a mystery for visitors but very convenient for people who know it. That it doesn't have automatic barriers is a great advantage over the tube and suburban services.

[@ajs41]

Thanks for another interesting video Geoff. Incidentally the 1990s BBC drama series "Bugs" features quite a lot of shots of the Docklands Light Railway and the general Canary Wharf area before it became as populated as it is today. The production team were deliberately trying to give the show a futuristic atmosphere by filming in the area just after it was built, and I think it works pretty well. Also, the 1991 film Close My Eyes (directed by Stephen Poliakoff) has some interesting shots of the Canary Wharf area as it was being built, including some journeys on the DLR.

[@DaCompass77]

Travelled the DLR today for the first time. Great experience. And was at Pudding Mill Lane (among others), too. Great vids, well done!

[@johncarter2573]

When I was a kid, Limehouse station was called Stepney east.

[@Topboy53]

Ikr

[@stephenlittle7534]

Well done again. I remember riding on those first two lines. And the way the lines went to Poplar Station. My Dad's first worked at Old Poplar Station as a porter in Steam Days. On £2 pound odd a week and he enjoyed every minute. His Lst was 2nd in Comarded of Parcels from Land's End to the North and over with connection with early Europe Days.

[@SimulationGuyOfficial]

i love how this got recommended to me exactly 4 years after it came out

[@robmcwhinnie6066]

They don't call it DLArtwork? Seems like a missed opportunity. Love the videos!

[@SanAndreas0611]

Surely ‘DLaRtwork’

[@no1fanofthepals]

It would be "DLRtwork"

[@SanAndreas0611]

How about DLR with aRtwork going down vertically sharing the R?

[@SanAndreas0611]

a DLR t w o r k

[@trainspottingkingdom4972]

That's just silly

[@LinxFox]

Yay, glad to see you still doing these!.

[@BlaiddLlwyd]

When I was student in London the DLR ran right behind the house I lived in and I used it a fair bit, especially going to the original Island Gardens station and walking through the tunnel to get to Greenwich Park or to and from Bank to switch to the Underground. It was always fun to ride.

[@scipio5916]

*sees new secrets video* *delighted screaming*

[@peterh48]

Great video, great photos thanks for you content👍

[@twyfordlion]

Great report Geoff, a tonic in these dark times.

[@milliesansoye6560]

Another great video! Really enjoy these videos, they're so insightful. I'm a Londoner born and raised but I don't know half of these things!

[@alexstrains903]

At the artwork at Woolwich Arsenal, I am learning about Micheal Craig Martin in School!

[@jeremywilcox]

You know what Geoff, the more of your stuff I see the more less daft I feel - smile.

[@FannyLerouxTime]

I wish there was more of these videos, I've watched all the others and absolutely love them

[@TheFellaLittle]

Good video 👍🏻The Shadwell “secret” exit wasn’t always an used as a public exit, it was only there to be used as an emergency/fire exit. It was opened as an exit on marathon days and it’d be a one way system. I think it was opened fully as an exit in time for the olympics.

[@mr51406]

We in Montreal are getting a DLR-style line, reconverting an old suburban train line, and adding finally getting direct access and metro service to the airport. It will feature a panoramic front window but no seat! ☹️ And the DLR of course makes me nostalgic of Vancouver’s Skytrain. Very interesting video thanks! 👍🏼😊

[@TransCanadaPhil]

I was on the DLR once when I visited the UK in 2017, I took it out to Greenwich to visit the Observatory and the Maritime Museum. But I forgot to "swipe out" with my Visitor Oyster card (I forgot and wasn't used to that) so it charged me 13 pounds. But I talked to the staff and they agreed to refund me because they saw that I was just a dumb tourist that didn't know better. 😁

[@ianmoseley9910]

Trans Canada Phil Surel dumb tourists are there to be bilked!😋

[@deralpenfahrer9412]

@@ianmoseley9910 Certainly!

[@lisa_vxng]

Yeah sometimes you have to search for the yellow swiping thingies but hey, they have to make money somehwo😂

[@markstefanwiszowaty2466]

Always pays to play the dumb tourist... when it suits! Used the strategy more than once, particularly if it's in a foreign language... "Um... Pas compris, M'sieu'!" ;-)

[@cAddnan]

Love the DLR, my commute involves going from Langdon Park to Bank everyday, in the last 3 years I can probably count on one hand how many times I have had issues getting in. The Bank DLR from Poplar does get especially busy, so a tip if not in a rush, get to Canary Wharf or West India Quay and catch Bank train from there, more space, possibly even a seat.

[@eugenespeed]

First time I've ever seen a new (London based) Secrets video as I only discovered this channel a year ago.

[@GevinShaw]

I'm enjoying the installments about DLR. (And all the rest of them.) I lived in London for nine months in 1987-1988. For the first month or so I was staying in a new condo on the Isle of Dogs (I think the ones with the brown roofs on the east side), so I was using DLR about a month after it opened. Must have been Crossharbour Station. It was still pretty desolate out there with a lot of abandoned light industry and cement walls. Though I always felt safe going home late at night because there wasn't anyone around.

[@AFCManUk]

I remember way back, when the DLR didn't run on a Saturday and One-Day-Travelcards weren't valid on it. Oh, and when Island Gardens was the end of the line. DLR has improved and expanded so much :)

[@thesouthwesttrainsguy277]

Omg I thought we’d never get another one of these loved it

[@Emanuel-sx5wv]

Awesome! Thanks Geoff!

[@transportenthusiasticman26]

I love going on the (DLR), Docklands Light Railway

[@chrisssiiy]

Awh. I miss this. Loved living near the docks. Moved up north now and I never thought I’d miss the dlr but I really do 😂

[@tomgirldouble3249]

Loved the DLR when I stayed in London recently, got to sit up front a couple of times too 😁

[@tumainitiger4655]

I always see the artwork at Woolwich as that's my local DLR station 🙂

[@jamesc1199]

Another amazing video from Geoff Marshall 👍👍👍

[@kasrahz]

If you love the DLR, come to Vancouver! They have the DLR on a whole other level!

[@johnledingham852]

You hit the nail smack on the blunt end Geoff, when you said "If you're not in a hurry, stop and look around the station." We should all slow down and look around us. I didn't do this until I retired. I thought "What a mug I've been!" Stop and smell the roses! Stop and hear the birds singing! Stop and watch a sunrise! Stop and see kids playing. I do it all now, nothing can stop me stopping to take it in!

[@hublanderuk]

Another Secret of the DLR the Porta cabin underneath Pontoon Dock station was for the Extra DLR staff during the Olympics. This Rest/ tea room is still there 7 years later. I had to visit all these locations where extra staff was going to be before the Olympics in 2012 :-)

[@playstationcentral782]

Great video. Such a interesting person and a inspiration to me

[@hmnie6413]

This ones a classic. Every escalator and staircase, you’ll know it is 15 floors. Only on the tube.

[@thegeneralissimo470]

I was really fascinated by the different bridge arches.

[@paradonym]

"secret entries you'd never know were there" - would be a great video.

[@david345878]

That part about the bridges is really interesting!

[@OldUKAds]

I wanted more on that!

[@trainspotter9941]

I show my family as we went here last week

[@matthewodwyer3615]

You're bang on about the best seats being at the front or the back. The only way to travel on the DLR

[@elementballs]

fun fact: the start of every facts or tidbits spell "rockwell", very cool geoff!

[@llux]

a great video to watch when im about to go ride around the dlr for the last time before i move country

[@ckbe1069]

Thanks Geoff ... wonderfully done and soooo informative ... and I thought I knew the DLR rather well having lived near MudChute and used it nearly everyday for about 2 years just moving to St Davids Square (right at the bottom on the Isle of Dogs) at Y2K ... my how it's grown ... Also totally agree on riding at the back of the train ... first ever trip to London in March '99 staying in Docklands, I caught the DLR westbound to TG to catch the LU to LHR (that's a journey x2!) but I was listening to "West End Girls" reminiscing on that trip not sure when (if ever) I'd be back let alone knowing I'd move there in less than a year's time ... wonderful memories (and why yes, I do date myself as I was listening to that track on my CD Discman!)

[@buzzukfiftythree]

Great video as always Geoff. Canning Town interchange is, as you say, rather confusing, especially if you're transferring from the Jubilee line to the DLR for London City Airport. I do wish they'd make the signage a little clearer, as we always find ourselves wandering around trying to find the right DLR platform. If one only uses the station once or twice a year (as we do) it's impossible to remember.

[@TheTransportHub17]

Great video Geoff and nice to see another video of the DLR.

[@charlieguy6872]

dlr is my line and im absolutely in love with it, thanks for the video :)

[@johnmurray8428]

Next time I am in the UK I am going to ride the DLR. Did not exist when I left in 1975 & Stratford at that time was a bit of a back water. How it has all changed. Another good movie, keeping us in touch.

[@ianmoseley9910]

John Murray Up to 1965 Stratford was technically not in London - outer boundary of the old LCC was the River Lea

[@johnmurray8428]

@@ianmoseley9910 All a long long ago metropolis far far away.

[@THjelm]

Cool! The PID shown at 4:50 uses the same font as the displays in the Stockholm underground!

[@pardeyhard]

Interesting you mention a plastic steering wheel... I posted a tweet a few years ago of me sitting on the front seat of the DLR. Their social media team got in touch with me and sent me, I kid you not, an inflatable steering wheel with a suction cup so you could stick it onto the window. It says 'front seat on the DLR #happydays' on it.

[@mattingham83]

I remember many years ago using the DAISY system via WAP to see when the next train was due to leave from Cyprus DLR station; was basically what the screens were showing at the station.

[@djlawlz4041]

Canning Town Station is kinda like North Station here in Boston. We have the Green Line (trains (Light Rail) that each end in different places and are light rail. Inbound is on the lower level and outbound is on the upper level. However, the Orange line (Subway) towards forest hills is on the same platform as the Inbound green line but on the other side. The outbound Orange Line (Forest Hills towards Oak Grove) is opposite the Inbound (another platform, like a typical subway). Both platforms connect up to the upper level and the upper level has an underground connection to TD Garden which serves Commuter Rail (Commuter Train), Amtrak, and local bus connections. There’s a really similar aspect to another station called South Station (basically a major station on the South side of Boston instead of the North side) but it’s a tad more complicated.

[@zenaasura1769]

Just skated at pud mill station yesterday. Really nice station.

[@ponkyponk86]

Loved going on the ‘train with no driver’ back in the 90s with a travel card we would get on at the back, ride the train to the end of the line then we’d be a the front when it went back. Good times

[@petermc7098]

Hello There, really useful and informative video, so, so interesting and varied, thoroughly enjoyed it! Cheers Peter

[@peteregan3862]

Thanks Geoff. Great info on London City Airport - 60% of people catching/disembarking flights at the airport travel by DLR. 4.87 mill passengers used the airport in 2018, up 6.4%. Over 2.9 million using the DLR. We should expect 3.1 mil in 2019. This airport and London will particularly benefit from quieter aircraft under development, including short range electric aircraft. Thus, Crossrail/Elizabeth Line should also get a London City Airport station. It should go directly south of the terminal building - 200 metres away. and be linked by underground tunnel. If Factory Rd and Albert Rd could be narrowed for platforms, the works would be very cheap. Leonard St would see about 20 passengers per train walk down it. The Crossrail track at this point has a 1% down platform slope - barely perceptible to passengers, and not an operational issue. We would expect to see Crossrail/Elizabeth Line increase the share of passengers using public transport to the airport, and reduce demand for travel on the much lower capacity DLR. All the residents in the neighbourhood from an Elizabeth Line station. The Airport, neighbours and the London rail network, and Londoners generally should benefit from the new station. If both roads can't be narrowed, it would be better to take part of Albert Rd and create an island platform with access from both Factory and Albert Rds - on the northside of Albert Rd, four terrace end houses would be demolished and about 20 other properties may lose a thin slice of their yard. 10 properties on the east side of Leonard Rd may be required for a covered walkway to the terminal building.

[@freesmartdoesfungames9002]

1:01 It's like Highgate on the Northern Line except the trains overrun to the front end of the platform instead!

[@eisemanrenyardjake]

Talking of DLR artwork and the Beckton branch, I used to study at University of East London, right next to Cyprus station, which is virtually identical in appearance to Beckton Park station. In my last year of studying art there, we had to find a client outside of the university to look at how they'd put an art installation together. My choice was TfL, for how to get platform artworks up at these 2 stations so you could tell them apart more easily (many students and even staff members had mistakenly got off the train 1 stop early at Beckton Park!). Beckton Park's artwork ought to have been a wrap-round tile mural of the park itself, complete with the horses at the horse track, while Cyprus's artwork was intended to have an abstract composition of stationary (pencils, paper, rulers, pens, laptop computer, graduation scroll, etc.) for the university. Though I graduated with a top mark, TfL never got back to me. Hopefully in the future.....

[@will_douglas0030]

Moving to Stratford very soon, useful to know about the entrance!

[@tumainitiger4655]

Wow this video was so interesting! I'll definitely keep my eye out for the 136 train in future. 🙂

[@Duncan20690]

‘Thames Wharf’ is the name of the first of the London Levels in 1998’s Tomb Raider III

[@041x7]

Did you know that central line was planned to run to denham? (one more stop from west ruislip)

[@Topboy53]

Two more via Harefield Road

[@TWX1138]

When we stayed in a hotel at Hyde Park literally over the Lancaster Gate tube station we ultimately took the DLR out to see the Royal Naval College. I can't remember if we had to change lines more than once but it worked well.

[@a4yster]

When I lived in london, in 2008 - for about a week after arriving I was convinced that DLR IS the tube! I got a lift from the airport to the place I stayed at so I haven't seen trains on the way in.

[@thetraveller9712]

Another excellent video Geoff.

[@CLechleitner42]

Nice. I'm only in London for a frew days, but I just used those new escalators at Limehouse a good hour ago ;-)

[@transporttechtv]

Interesting facts on the Docklands Light Railway

[@tumainitiger4655]

Wait wait wait wait wait... I've never seen that entrance or exit for Canning Town before all I know is the bus station... well the sun's out so you know what I'm doing this afternoon lol

[@zackboone15]

Exits you didn't realize were there is a great video topic

[@toddhunter3137]

I love the artwork of London tube and dlr stations. All our Manchester metrolink stops are bland, corporate and totally soulless, just like all our train stations. At least our bus shelters are graffitied up there by some individual artform 😊

[@aaroncahill5889]

Hi Geoff. Love the videos. I don't think the Stratford to Island Gardens line was built at the same time as the Tower Gateway to Island Gardens line. The latter was built first. Part of the former line track was used for some time by the overground to get down to Woolwich North (through that great tunnel under the Royals).

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

I always go for the back seat, ssshhhhh :-) I like Michael Craig-Martin's work, I had no idea that work existed as I've always used the main exit at Woolwich Arsenal, will check it out thanks!

[@s6leh]

3:30 yes i used to live at shadwell haha btw theres a pfc shop right under that sells nice chicken :)

[@sciencethinktank]

Please make more videos about the DLR, from Douglas, aged 4!

[@captainmashedpotato2630]

Geoff taking the 'Edd China' approach to T-shirt fashion it seems.

[@kumatoni5245]

I spent a night in Shadwell in the early 2000s, and pretty sure I went down those steps. Searching for a greasy spoon fry up the next morning we had no luck, so we ended up having an incredible curry for breakfast. :)

[@varunadas]

Kuma Toni - Next video at 500k subs Those stairs were opened up before 2012 olympics to let locals to exit from the other side and tourists using the usual front exit to change over to overground.

[@lils8289]

I use the link bridge at Limehouse every morning on my travels to university in Greenwich! So annoying that on the way back I have to go the long way down the stairs and re enter the national rail station!

[@cryptiic2063]

I'm early!!! Love the videos Geoff, keep it up with the great content!

[@crayzmarc]

Used to live there so have been down those stairs. That exit also seems to double as a toilet for some people and stinks of piss a lot of the time. Junkies also hang out there and shoot up once seeing myself someone sticking a needle in themselves at the side of the stairs as I walked down them. It's in part why the built that metal bit at the back too to deter people but they're still there. Brave of you to sit on them stwice so hope you washed your trousers after.