New DLR train introduction saga continues
With new trains for the DLR now almost a year late it may have been hoped that a Transport for London board meeting last week may shed some light on just what is going on.
Think again.
The only mention in Board papers is that nothing is yet ready to be revealed and to wait until March for news.
This may be less of an issue is ongoing delays weren’t seeing short-formed trains, network service reductions and higher costs to TfL. It’s not a project so far beset with much success.
A contractor building new sidings in Beckton for additional stock went under. Work at Beckton is now back underway but not complete.
A further issue arose during train testing when one train overshot its stopping point.
Delays mean that completed trains are being stored by the Spanish manufacturer CAF – which is costing Transport for London additional money. A December Programmes and Investment Committee meeting put rising costs at £35 million.
Existing stock
As delays increase 30-year old stock continues though with more short-formed services. Couple that with ongoing service reductions and closures as testing goes on and it’s not an enticing prospect for passengers.
The thing is DLR ridership bounced back quickly after the pandemic despite the Elizabeth line. Now it’s stagnating and the service quality – or lack of – can’t be ignored.
The lack of much explanation in this week’s board meeting isn’t a great sign. Now it looks like March is the next meeting that may shine some light.
Latest rumours suggest a late 2025 introduction and around 18 months late. We shall see.
TfL’s latest statement from Stuart Harvey, TfL’s Chief Capital Officer, said: “We are sorry that we did not start introducing the new DLR trains late last year as planned, following the discovery of a pre-existing technical issue within the signalling system.
“While there had been earlier challenges discovered during the testing of the new trains, we were implementing a plan to address these.
“But the discovery of the signalling issue means that further detailed analysis and software modifications need to take place. We are working hard to bring the new trains into service as soon as possible.”
Oh well, this perfectly encapsulates the UK’s current state of things. Decades of declining productivity, major infrastructure projects such as the Elizabeth Line delivered years behind schedule, and a post-Brexit reality where the country seems to be going backwards. Don’t expect anything to move fast in a country drowning in red tape and political correctness. TfL’s excuses about ‘pre-existing technical issues’ are just the cherry on top..!
I just wished they pushed the DLR out towards Blackheath, Eltham, Blacken, Bexley heath etc by following the A2 route. We are so badly served in those areas and for some reason Woolwich (especially Woolwich) and Abbey wood get the wonderful transport services
So it’s likely that the new DLR light rail trains may not enter service until later on this year as most of them are still stuck in Spain. Or will they still be delivered in time for summer and to see them in service in summer this year.
Any ideas on why the new DLR B23 stock is still stuck in Spain? And why it’s still in Spain. My suggestion is that if these new units are still not yet to be transferred to the UK.
Then I would imagine that these new DLR trains may not be entering service until the end of this year or in the beginning of 2026.
And it is an absolute waste of money on building new rolling stocks that cannot be delivered and to be in passenger service on time.