A strike on the DLR could hit tens-of-thousands of spectators getting ready to watch Sunday’s London Marathon on its route through east London.
Staff operating the automatic rail network from the City along the route through Shadwell, Limehouse, Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs plan a four-day stoppage from 4am tomorrow.
The walk-out could also affect runners planning to register before the race at the ExCel centre in Custom House which is on the DLR line.
The RMT union has been locked in a dispute with DLR operators Keolisamey Docklands over working practices.
The strike follows a 48-hour walkout last month over the same dispute on what the union sees as “fundamental issues” of workplace justice, fairness and the outsourcing of some functions.
Talks between the union and DLR has been continuing at Acas, the government’s conciliation and arbitration service.
But time is running out for the marathon run. So TfL is making a run of its own—a limited contingency service with busses calling at DLR stations on the marathon route such as Shadwell, Limehouse and Canary Wharf.
The DLR itself, which carries 350,000 passengers a day, is planning “as much of a service as possible” over the four day strike.
More carriages are being added to main-line Fenchurch Street c2c trains calling at Limehouse with 20,000 extra seats and free travel for runners showing their number or finisher’s medal.
The Underground and Overground and London Buses are operating as normal.
Tower Hamlets Council is making preparations to cope—with or without the DLR.
Free parking is available at Bishop Challoner School in Commercial Road for 24 hours from 4pm Saturday for car-owners living in the Wapping area which will be cut off by the marathon passing both ways along The Highway at Shadwell. The school is close to Shadwell station on the Overground, one stop from Wapping.
Vehicles are also being banned on the Isle of Dogs from 9.45am on Sunday until after 2pm along Manchester Road.
The marathon, starting at Greenwich, goes through Woolwich, Deptford and Rotherhithe before crossing over Tower Bridge into east London and along The Highway to Limehouse, round Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, then back along The Highway through The City and Embankment to the finish at The Mall.
Pupils from seven Tower Hamlets secondary schools also take part in the ‘Mini London Marathon’ over the last three miles for children between 11 and 17.
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