It was great to see the new Docklands Light Railway (DLR) extension to Woolwich Arsenal open yesterday. It will be an important north-south transport link for the London 2012 Games.

Seeing this progress made me feel privileged to have worked for the railway when it opened just over 20 years ago in 1987. I don't think any of us managers could have predicted that the DLR would grow so big, prove so useful and offer so much to large swathes of east and south-east London!

Her Majesty The Queen on board one of the first DLR trains at its official opening in 1987:

The DLR was first planned as a very modest investment in public transport to encourage developers to build some office space in the Docklands and help regenerate that area of east London.

It is quite sobering to think that the railway was first built for around £87m. Moving ahead a couple of decades and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is investing almost the same amount – around £80m – in enhancing the DLR for the 2012 Games and the future. Yes, I know I'm not allowing for inflation but it makes you think...

Seeing the new Woolwich Arsenal station open, the DLR’s second crossing under the River Thames linking north-south, is testament to how far this railway has progressed.

The new Woolwich Arsenal station:

The DLR will be continuing to expand and improve to help get millions of spectators to London 2012 venues and serve the future east London community over the next 20 years.

Find out more about the investment the ODA is making in the DLR in the third issue of 'pace'