Press Release - London Marathon - 4/17/18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

            Advice for London Marathon runners ahead of DLR strike

17/04/2018

Transport for London (TfL) is advising customers using the Docklands Light 
Railway (DLR) that further planned strike action by the RMT union will 
affect services over a four-day period from 04:00 on Friday 20 April until 
03:59 on Tuesday 24 April. 

Plans are being developed with the aim of operating a limited service over 
the four days, which coincide with the Virgin Money London Marathon Expo 
(18-21 April) at ExCeL London and the Virgin Money London Marathon on 
Sunday 22 April.

Where possible, depending on staff numbers, limited services will be 
prioritised to enable participants in the London Marathon to travel to 
ExCeL to register ahead of the event, and for runners and their supporters 
to reach the Start Area in Greenwich and the race route on the Isle of Dogs 
on Sunday.

We advise runners to register for the race at ExCeL before strike action 
takes effect where possible. The Expo is open from 11:00-20:00 on Wednesday 
18 April and 10:00-20:00 on Thursday 19 April.

Runners and spectators are advised to check the TfL website at 
tfl.gov.uk/DLR-strike for the latest information and to plan ahead using 
the TfL journey planner and to look at alternative options for their 
journeys.

You can also check our official pages on Twitter and Facebook for all the 
latest important travel information related to the 2018 Virgin Money London 
Marathon.

Extra bus services will be deployed along the DLR network over the four 
days of the strike and TfL Travel Ambassadors will be on hand to provide 
travel information and advice to customers. All other TfL services will be 
operating as usual, however there will be road closures around the London 
Marathon route from early Sunday morning. The Jubilee, Central, District 
and Hammersmith & City lines in East London are expected to be busier than 
usual and stations including Canary Wharf, Canada Water, London Bridge, 
Canning Town, Bank and Stratford may be exceptionally busy. Customers are 
advised to check before they travel and allow extra time for their 
journeys.

Further information on what services may operate will be communicated ahead 
of the strike and posters, digital boards and announcements in London 
Underground and London Overground stations will keep customers informed of 
the levels of service.

Mark Davis, TfL’s Interim General Manager of the DLR, said: "Millions of 
pounds are raised for charity at the London Marathon and we don’t want to 
see the thousands of people who have signed up to run, or their supporters, 
disrupted. We urge RMT and KeolisAmey Docklands to continue with 
discussions to settle their dispute.

"If this strike goes ahead, we will work hard to provide as much of a 
service as possible over the four days with a particular aim of helping 
runners and supporters get to the starting line on Sunday. Bus, Tube and 
rail services will operate as normal and we will have extra buses running 
along the DLR route. Customers are advised to check before they travel and 
allow extra time to make their journeys, while our Travel Ambassadors will 
be on hand to provide information and advice to help keep London moving."
 
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