First opened on 31 August 1987, the DLR was a key component in the regeneration of large areas of disused industrial land into valuable commercial and residential districts.
[1] The system been extended multiple times, and now reaches north to Stratford, south to Lewisham, west to Tower Gateway and Bank in the City of London financial district, and east to Beckton, London City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal.
Stations are in the City of London and the boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich and Lewisham with the majority of the network north of the River Thames.
Of the 45 stations, four are underground: Woolwich Arsenal, Island Gardens, Bank and Cutty Sark (for Maritime Greenwich).
As part of the development of the Docklands Light Railway, several sites were safeguarded for future station construction, some of which have been implemented.