WORK is about to start on a new rail link which will whisk commuters into the City in minutes.

Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has got the go-ahead to start work building a £180m extension into Woolwich Arsenal.

The 1.4-mile extension will run from the newly-built George V station in North Woolwich to an underground station in Woolwich town centre, via tunnels under the river Thames.

The new station will have one entrance in the existing Woolwich Arsenal station and another in the town centre.

The new service, hoped to be up and running by 2009, means Woolwich commuters will be able to travel to Bank station in the heart of the City in 26 minutes.

London City Airport will be just five minutes away.

DLR director Jonathan Fox said: "This is great news for people living south of the Thames another new DLR route to provide fast and frequent travel to Canary Wharf, the City, east London and London City Airport."

He said DLR had been working for several years with Greenwich Council on the project.

Mr Fox added he is looking forward to playing a significant role in the regeneration of the area.

Council leader Councillor Chris Roberts said: "DLR coming to Woolwich is great news for the borough.

"It will open up many new job opportunities for people, encourage new businesses to set up a base in the borough and make Woolwich an even more attractive place in which to live and work and to visit."

The DLR currently carries more than 50m passengers a year.

Passenger numbers are expected to rise to 80m a year by 2009.