The organiser of World Travel Market (7-10 November 2011) has welcomed planned transport improvements to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).
 
Transport for London (TfL) plans to increase the capacity of DLR trains from two to three carriages while running services run every two minutes and 30 seconds during peak periods.
 
West Ham is open as a DLR station for the first time, providing an interchange with the District, Hammersmith and City and Jubilee lines. The opening of the Stratford International link for the London 2012 Olympics will also increase frequency through Canning Town to Custom House.
 
According to Reed Exhibitions, improving the interchange further between London Underground and the DLR could boost attendance 33 per cent at WTM 2011.
 
Other changes include a new platform at Canning Town Station and new escalators at Custom House Station, improving entry and exit from Excel London for the 48,000 travel industry professionals expected at the Reed show. TfL will also continue with its Travel Hub at Canning Town Station, introduced for WTM 2009 to troubleshoot issues for major events such as the 2009 G20 meeting at Excel.
 
“The increase in capacity on the DLR is great news for all WTM participants,” World Travel Market exhibition director Simon Press said. “I would like to thank TfL for recognising the importance of World Travel Market and continuing with its Travel Hub at Canning Town for a third successive year.”
 
WTM 2010 generated £1.42bn worth of travel industry contracts, according to research by Fusion Communications.
 
Reed claimed a 10 per cent rise in visitors to the 2010 World Travel Market to 26,908.
 
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