Features

The first passenger train ran on 31st August 1987, after the line was opened by the Queen.

The original route ran with 11 trains to 15 stations, terminating at Tower Gateway in the City, Stratford to the East and Island Gardens to the furthest tip of the Isle of Dogs.

The DLR celebrates 20 years this week

Today the DLR runs 94 trains into 38 stations, extended to Lewisham, Beckton, Bank and soon Woolwich Arsenal via London City Airport. It carries over 60 million passengers a year and Transport for London expect this figure to rise to 80 million by 2009.

Here are a few facts about the DLR that you might not have heard before:

* DLR trains are capable of speeds up to 50mph, although they rarely travel above 40mph.

* A viaduct in the Limehouse / Westferry area is one of the oldest structures on the DLR, dating back to 1840. It is a listed viaduct that originally formed part of the London and Blackwall rope-hauled railway.

* DLR is the only driverless rail system in the UK. Its trains are operated remotely in a futuristic control centre.

* Westferry station is actually in Limehouse.

* East India station was originally called 'Brunswick Wharf', while Mudchute was formerly 'Millwall Dock'. The future Langdon Park station, due to open in November this year, was initially named 'Carmen Street'

* The original DLR station at Canary Wharf didn't open in 1987. In line with expected growth and development, it was dismantled, rebuilt and formally opened in 1991.