A new station on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) was opened on 10 December at Langdon Park, Tower Hamlets, providing better access to London's public transport network for thousands of residents.

Situated between All Saints and Devons Road stations on the DLR route to Stratford, the £7.5m station has been funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Leaside Regeneration and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in recognition of the significant benefits and opportuntities it will create.

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, joined young people from the nearby Langdon Park school, and presented them with free Oyster cards for their families.

Ken Livingstone said: "This new Docklands Light Railway station will benefit thousands of families in East London, and will play a key role in supporting the regeneration of the surrounding area. It will be vital in giving local residents quick and easy access to the London transport network, and will connect them to all that the capital has to offer."

Chief Executive of Leaside Regeneration, Paul Brickell, said: "This station was the dream of local residents and I am delighted that it's become a reality today."

Cllr Ohid Ahmed from London Borough of Tower Hamlets, said: "The council has been campaigning for this station for the past 10 years, so I am especially proud today to see it up and running. This station will improve access to public transport for local people who live and work in this part of the borough and act as a catalyst for regeneration in the area."

The station, which has been built on what was one of the longest gaps on the DLR network, is located at the heart of the Teviot and Lansbury estates, adjacent to Langdon Park itself and close to Langdon Park school.

Transport for London has also opened the second platform of its new Stratford station. This will offer passengers greater capacity by allowing DLR trains to run to and from Stratford alongside each other. The previous DLR single platform, which was part of the railway's original 1987 route, has been permanently closed.