The investment will contribute towards different DLR projects that will expand the DLR network for the 2012 Games, increase its number of rail cars and provide an even more reliable and frequent service. The DLR’s current 67 million passengers a year will benefit from the transport improvements driven by the Games as early as 2010, when all of these projects will be completed.

ODA Transport Director Hugh Sumner said: 'The DLR started in 1987 with six million passengers. The fact that only 25 years later in 2012 it will be capable of carrying 100 million passengers a year is testament to the crucial role it has played in regenerating east London.

'75p out of every £1 spent on the Games will be spent on projects that will leave a positive legacy. Commuters and residents will be able to see this legacy in action for themselves two years before the Games, in this £80m investment in the DLR.'

Director of DLR Jonathan Fox said: 'DLR is already ahead of the game in its plans for 2012 thanks to funding and support from the ODA. The extensions and upgrades we will have in place will not only make for a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games, but provide reliable and well-connected public transport for years to come.

'Everyone at DLR is keenly anticipating the Games as we are confident the railway will make a significant contribution to the success of London 2012.'

Four new stations – Star Lane, Abbey Road, Stratford High Street and Stratford International – will be built along the Stratford International extension, which will open in July 2010. These new stations will give people who live in the area a better and more frequent connection to the Olympic Park and other London 2012 venues served by the DLR.

These new transport links will support the community, which has suffered from poor access to transport, by connecting them to the new jobs, facilities and shopping space at the new Stratford City development.

Notes to Editors:

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18,600 people on average use the DLR to Stratford Regional Station every day, but in 2012, this will increase to 75,000 during the Olympic Games.

500,000 people are expected to use the DLR on each day of the first week of the Olympic Games.

There will be 27 DLR trains per hour on the DLR Stratford International Extension into the heart of the Olympic Park and there will be a 25% increase in the length of the DLR by 2010.

London 2012 wants to host the most inclusive Games ever. As a fully accessible transport service, the DLR will help us achieve that goal. All DLR stations are step-free, there is level access between the floor of the train and platforms, and carriages are spacious, benefitting wheelchair users and passengers with mobility aids.

As part of the Stratford International DLR extension, a section of the former North London Line between North Woolwich and Stratford is being converted to run a DLR service. Two new platforms for the North London Line are being built at Stratford regional Station. These new platforms are due to be finished early next year. This extension and conversion to DLR operation will allow 10 trains per hour to run during peak periods, compared with the maximum of three National Rail trains per hour that used to run to north Woolwich.

As part of the DLR Stratford International Extension, there will also be improvements made to the junction at Canning Town, including a new flyover, to increase the timetable and flexibility and frequency of trains.

– Ends –

The construction of the venues and infrastructure of the London 2012 Games is funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency.

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