§ Mr. FitzpatrickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide a report on the progress of Docklands Light Railway Limited. [67025]
§ Mr. CabornI have today placed in the Library of the House the Docklands Light Railway Limited' s (DLR Ltd) Annual Report and Accounts for 1997–98.
The railway continues to make excellent progress. Passenger numbers increased from 17 million to 23 million during the year and continue to grow. Excellent progress is being made on the extension of the railway to Lewisham and it is expected to be operational in time for the Millennium. DLR Ltd., now directly owned by the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions, assumed its new role as a holding company, with effect from 6 April 1997 and successfully franchised the railway's operation and maintenance to the private sector.