The Docklands Light Railway has taken delivery of the first of 22 new carriages,that will be used to form 3 car sets from later this year, partially funded by the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: ‘This cracking new carriage is just a small part of a crucial investment in the DLR so that it will be able to cope with the many thousands of extra passengers the line will carry during London 2012. But the really great thing about these carriages is that Londoners can already benefit from them three years before the Games even begin.’

The DLR has already taken delivery of 33 new vehicles that have been funded by Transport for London and when the ODA vehicles enter service the DLR fleet will have increased from 94 to 149.

In addition to contributing £20m towards the 22 new carriages,with TfL investing the other £20m,the ODA has invested £80m in DLR to allow upgrades and improvements to be made prior to 2012. DLR will serve four competition venues: the Olympic Park, ExCeL London, Woolwich Royal Artillery Barracks and Greenwich Park.