COMMUTERS in the area can now take advantage of an increased number of DLR trains to central London.

An increase in trains and the number of carriages on the Lewisham to Bank route means there will now be 15 trains per hour rather than 13.3 during peak times.

An extra 1,100 passengers can now be carried every hour as part of the £325m upgrade programme which was designed to improve the area's transport links ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.

The Mayor of London's transport adviser, Kulveer Ranger, said: "Increasing the capacity of the DLR is vital ahead of the 2012 games when it will play a key role in getting people to the venues.

"Delivering these improvements now is a good example of the mayor's commitment to delivering the legacy of the games early for people who live and work along the route of the DLR."

But services to Stratford from Lewisham have been decreased to make way for extra trains between Canary Wharf and Stratford.

There will now only be five trains per hour rather than eight or nine.

Morning peak services between Canary Wharf and Lewisham are now operating at 20 trains per hour rather than 22 but the new service provides 25 per cent more capacity thanks to extra carriages.

Director of the DLR, Jonathan Fox, said: “We are pleased to be able to deliver this service improvement to our passengers.

“Passengers will see increasing benefits delivered by our upgrade and new carriages. Again I’d like to thank them for their patience and co-operation during the last three years.”