Restored and improved DLR timetable soon? Another new train enters service
When a new fleet of train enters service it first requires thousands of miles of testing, and then if the threshold for passenger service is meet, both politicians and press releases show up for the grand unveiling.
Photos are taken as VIPs toast the new arrival as recently seen with new DLR trains arriving (almost 18 months late).
Yet that’s only part of the story. Following that it’s hoped the rest of the fleet can then enter service at a steady lick, as older trains meet the deadline for withdrawal.
When it comes to new DLR trains time is short and that transfer from the old to the new is critical. Transport for London have already halved services on one branch with trains between Beckton and Stratford International dropping in frequency earlier this year.
To restore services – let alone boost them – we need to see a steady stream of trains. And we have seen another thread into the timetable.
I’d been told it had happened and yesterday taking a new train to Woolwich Arsenal I saw another new train passing by.
Good news. Particularly for TfL.
Cost of delays
Delays with new stock entering service has already cost big. Not only with a hell of a lot of testing and closures across the network as newly arrived trains encountered problems with extensive route closures depriving fare revenue for TfL, but also having to pay manufacturer CAF to store newly built trains in Spain as they exited the production line with nowhere to go. Signalling issues appear to be the main problem with delays.
What’s also interesting is how few media outlets in London ever covered these problems. Getting invites to press releases appeared the most important thing on their minds for most. Don’t rock the boat. Keep TfL sweet. Get the free drinks and food.
All pretty weak from the majority of London’s media outlets be it those on Youtube and/or those who have certain websites who happen to be visiting.
Now with a second newly built train in service the key what we should see is a steady stream of new trains replacing both the old stock which will head to the scrapyard then in turn restoring cut services and bolstering frequencies.
Just today when heading along the Woolwich Arsenal branch I noticed both a new housing block rise rising (and a big masterplan has just gone in for next door – a post on that soon) and another residential complete which is the first of an eventual 6,500 at Silvertown Quays.
It’s ben a long time coming (I think I first covered this almost a decade ago) but finally the change to new trains appears in motion. And when complete the DLR network will be far better in terms of capacity and frequency.
All eyes now on restoring cut services – and then service enhancement.
You should ask them for an official response as to what they do with the new trains once it starts raining.
The new trains can’t ’handle the rain’ and they leave them (or put them back) in the depot.
You can’t make it up
The Bakerloo Line is in dire need of brand new tube trains to replace the 1972 Stock whether it the Bakerloo Line extension to Lewisham, Bromley and Hayes does or doesn’t get the go ahead to extend from Elephant and Castle. Maybe CAF could manufacture new tube trains for the Bakerloo Line once they have finished with the manufacture of the DLR B23 Stock.
who is paying ?
Have a guess. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
‘Now with a second newly built train in service …’. Er, there are more than two new train sets in service. I saw at least 10 when I was chasing the test rolling stock.
I have been on the new DLR B23 Stock few days ago and I have to say that they do look pretty impressive and with more of them coming into service. I’m hoping that passengers using the DLR will appreciate on what the new DLR trains will do.
And to help with reducing overcrowding at rush hour and to improve a much better light rail service along the entire Docklands Light Railway network in East London and The Docklands. And with plans to extend the DLR to Thamesmead in the near future.
I think that CAF could manufacture more of the new DLR B23 stocks but I do think that the new trains are only going to replace the B90, B92 and B2K stocks and the B07 and B09 Stocks are to stay.