Transport for London (TfL) has exercised its option to acquire 11 additional state-of-the-art DLR trains from CAF for a value that exceeds EUR 90 million which will bring the entire fleet to 54 new vehicles.
The first two new light rail vehicles, which feature a walk-through design, latest audio and visual real time travel information, air conditioning and mobile device charge points, have been delivered and are going through extensive testing ahead of introduction from 2024. This vital testing will ensure the trains are reliable and offer customers the best possible service.
Testing is currently taking place in overnight engineering hours and during some planned closures but later this year customers will see test trains running during the day in gaps between normal services. The new trains will be easy to spot as they feature a specially designed train wrap to help prevent confusion should a test train need to stop at station.
All 54 new LRVs will be introduced by the end of 2026 and will help boost overall capacity on the network by more than 60 per cent. Each train will feature 10 per cent more capacity and also provide better facilities for those with mobility impairments with three multi-use areas in addition to three dedicated wheelchair spaces. These multi-use areas can also be used to accommodate pushchairs, bicycles and luggage.
Just like the previous units, the new ones will each consist of 5 cars and will offer a range of additional improvements for passengers, including state-of-the-art real-time visual and audio travel information, as well as air conditioning, mobile device charging stations, multi-purpose areas – for pushchairs, bicycles and luggage, and wheelchair spaces. The new trains will increase the capacity of the DLR train fleet by 10%. The initial contract for 43 trains increased capacity by 30 per cent with additional trains boosting this further to more than 60 per cent. Providing over 90 million journeys each year, DLR is the busiest light rail system in the United Kingdom.
“Each train will feature 10 per cent more capacity and also provide better facilities for those with mobility impairments. The DLR is a vital transport option for east London and the Docklands area and these upgrades will support new jobs and homes in the area, helping to make London a greener, fairer and more prosperous city for all,” Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said.
In 2019, TfL awarded CAF a contract to manufacture 43 state-of-the-art DLR trains, following a comprehensive procurement process that focused on deliverability, technical expertise and value for money.
The new trains will provide more frequent direct services to the growing employment centre and cultural hub at Stratford, allowing people from across southeast London to reach new jobs in east London without the need to travel through Zone 1. It also serves Canary Wharf, a vitally important centre for the financial and professional service industries, where it links with the Tube network and the new Elizabeth line, which has seen more than 155 million journeys since opening.
The DLR is entirely step-free transport system and currently has 45 stations and 38 km of track. Modernising the DLR is a major part of London’s transport strategy, with the end goal being to transform the British capital city into a more environmentally friendly and more accessible place to live, work and visit, and drive employment and population at the same time. The investment intended to improve public transport in the city will help reduce people’s dependence on cars and contribute towards the goal of 80% of all journeys being made using public transport, cycling or walking by 2040.
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