- Who we are
- Capabilities
- Industries
- Solutions & Products
- Partners
- Resources
- Careers
- Finance
- Contact
As passenger numbers increased and London’s transport infrastructure continued to expand, DLR required its operational facilities to evolve without affecting the reliability of day-to-day services.
Both Beckton and Poplar depots were required to accommodate larger fleets, additional stabling capacity and new maintenance facilities whilst continuing to support live railway operations.
This presented several engineering challenges.
Legacy PLC, SCADA and depot signalling systems required modernisation to reduce the risks associated with ageing operational technology. At the same time, new infrastructure had to integrate seamlessly with existing assets, preserving operational knowledge whilst introducing greater visibility, resilience and flexibility.
Successive expansion projects introduced additional complexity. The Beckton Depot required significant infrastructure development, including the Southern extension, Northern sidings, a new maintenance facility building and additional stabling capacity to accommodate longer trains and increased fleet numbers. These changes also required coordinated modifications at the Poplar Depot to ensure both sites continued to operate as an integrated network.
The challenge extended beyond technology. Every phase of work had to be carefully planned, tested and commissioned within a live, safety-critical railway environment where operational disruption had to be kept to an absolute minimum.
The objective was not simply to replace obsolete equipment, but to create a control system architecture capable of supporting the continued evolution of the DLR network for decades to come.
iconsys has and continues to deliverer a phased programme of control system modernisation centred around lifecycle management rather than wholesale replacement.
Working collaboratively with principal contractors across multiple delivery programmes, iconsys designed, developed, integrated and commissioned successive generations of PLC, SCADA and depot signalling systems, ensuring each investment was an evolution of previous systems rather than an unnecessary replacement.
The programme has included:
A defining feature of the programme has been the ability to integrate legacy infrastructure with modern automation technologies while maintaining operational continuity.
Rather than replacing entire systems, iconsys has developed scalable control architectures capable of accommodating future depot expansion, additional signalling assets and evolving operational requirements.
This lifecycle engineering philosophy has enabled DLR to continue expanding its infrastructure whilst protecting previous investment and reducing the operational risks typically associated with large-scale technology replacement.
The scale and duration of the programme has required iconsys to work with multiple Tier 1 contractors, consultants and infrastructure partners over successive phases of development.
Maintaining engineering consistency across changing delivery organisations has allowed valuable operational knowledge to be retained throughout the lifecycle of the depot infrastructure, reducing engineering risk whilst accelerating future upgrade programmes.
This continuity has enabled iconsys to become a trusted systems integration partner within one of the UK’s most operationally demanding transport environments.
As one senior engineering manager from Balfour Beatty commented:
“Throughout the project, iconsys proved to be a safe pair of hands—reliable, responsive, collaborative, and trusted to deliver their scope with minimal oversight. Their consistency and professionalism make them a dependable systems integration partner within major transportation infrastructure programmes.”
The greatest achievement of this programme has not been a single installation, but the successful evolution of an operational railway over more than twenty years.
Through phased modernisation, iconsys has helped DLR:
The Beckton Depot Upgrade programme alone expanded the depot to accommodate longer trains, increased stabling capacity and a new Maintenance Facility Building, requiring associated upgrades to signalling and power systems as part of the wider infrastructure programme.
More importantly, the programme demonstrates that successful infrastructure modernisation is no longer about replacing assets in isolation. It is about enabling continuous operational evolution through carefully planned lifecycle engineering.
One thing that sets this programme apart is that it is still evolving.
The DLR programme continues today. As passenger demand, rolling stock and operational requirements continue to develop, iconsys remains actively involved in the next phase of depot development demonstrating that successful infrastructure modernisation is not a one-off capital project but an ongoing lifecycle strategy.
Building on more than twenty years of engineering knowledge and through long-term partnership, phased delivery and technology-independent systems integration, iconsys continues to support the evolution of one of the world’s most established automated rail networks while helping prepare it for the challenges of tomorrow.
“We engaged iconsys following their successful delivery on previous transportation infrastructure projects, where they had already built a strong reputation. From the outset, they demonstrated a clear understanding of the technical, operational, and safety-critical requirements associated with working in a live rail environment.
Throughout the project, iconsys proved to be a safe pair of hands—reliable, responsive, collaborative, and trusted to deliver their scope with minimal oversight. Their consistency and professionalism make them a dependable systems integration partner within major transportation infrastructure programmes.”
Vinay Tanwar
Senior Engineering Manager, Balfour Beatty
Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now