Stratford International - Testing yet?

No chance! August or September might be more realistic. We wait and see.

Think you're right!

There was a non-specific note in a local paper in Canary Wharf a few weeks ago that the opening had been delayed "until Autumn".

Well based on my checks it looks like they are close to testing. Tracks are all in place and cleared of any construction items and they are busy completeing all the boundary fence rebuilds and the low wooden baffles are installled in many places between stratford and canningtown. Stations also appear close to completion.

Diana, the problem is that if you tell the public something will be done by a certain point, then you have to commit to that or risk reputational damage.

From a PR point of view, it's far better to tell the public when you can be sure it's going to be correct.

The members of the public who are actually interested can always use these kinds of forums to get more up to date information, but this information is always going to be "unconfirmed" from a TfL perspective and TfL consequently has no reputational risk if things are ever delayed slightly (which often happens in the real world)

They did it for the Lewisham extension too!

No point in rushing towards a maiden voyage - trying to show off how quick new services can be pressed into action was the Titanic's downfall.

Terminal 5 too - an excellent example of something which should have been ramped up to full capacity over several weeks or months rather than expecting everything to work perfectly on day one.

I don't see how it matters. For a service that was never there in the first place it's hardly an inconvenience if it's delayed from the original vague opening date.

I have to disagree. By that logic, delaying Crossrail or ELLX2 wouldn't be detrimental as the service was never there...

So do we know when it's going to open yet? All they say is "Autumn 2010".

Plenty of Autumn to go Glom. Anytime soon no doubt and your map will become fascinating again! ;D Now, I have to go to another part of the forum to rant about the appearance of the ELL on the map - a disgrace!!

Fair enough, if that is the case, then they have let the project slip beyond the initially stated season although it will still be way ahead of the crowds for the Olympics. However, I would repeat my earlier statement, it never existed before so who is it inconveniencing now by not being ready yet? It's not Crossrail or the ELLX. As somebody above mentioned that's a totally unrelated scenario.

I am curious as to why this is the only major DLR project to have been delayed by any substantial amount. Most (if not all) of the other DLR extensions opened early or bang on time, so why is this one being held up so badly?