DLR journeys down six per cent say TfL after new train delays
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) was the worst performing mode of transport in London over the last financial year according to a new TfL report.
Passenger number fell six per cent owing to problems with new trains meaning ongoing regular line closures for testing with TfL stating:
“DLR journeys are down 6% on last year, a result of closures and timetable changes to support the introduction of new fleet”
Continual delays
Trains were due to be introduced back in 2024 though that was delayed until 2025. A handful were then introduced into service when one overshot a stop point last autumn resulting in all being withdrawn.
They’re still not back in service and the hope now is to see them earning passenger revenue before the end of summer.
In the meantime services have been reduced across the network, some trains have run short and the network sees widespread closures each weekend as well as during the week. To give one recent example last week all trains stopped running an hour earlier than normal.
It’s got to the point where you just assume it’s not running on weekends or out of term times, and won’t always risk taking a journey. When that mindset takes hold in the wider public it takes some time to shake off.
One line that saw reductions was the Beckton branch with services in the off-peak halved. This has made certain journeys rather cozy when events are on at the Excel. Even the Elizabeth line was struggling with crowds last week on a journey I took through the area.
Extra cost
A reduction in journeys is not the only financial hit to TfL from new train delays. A number of new trains, built by CAF in Spain, have had to be stored by the company owing to the delays with introduction. TfL have paid CAF additional funds as a result.
That was exacerbated by a contractor behind new sidings in Beckton collapsing.
When they finally do make it into service a capacity uplift will result across almost all branches, with longer trains and more capacity. Each train is fully walk-through, includes air conditioning as well as charging points.
A total of 54 new trains will replace the 33 oldest trains dating from the early 1990s.
Wider changes
Transport for London’s financial report also includes wider changes over the past year across other modes:
Buses: Down 3.3 per cent
Underground: Up 0.3 per cent
Rail: Up 1 per cent
Elizabeth line: Up 4.9 per cent
Overall passengers across all TfL networks fell one per cent.
1% fall in TfL passenger numbers is embarrassing!!
I can understand the DLR dropoff because weekend services are a joke, but you’d think TfL as a whole would be better.
Maybe people are just fare dodging instead to save money.
They should bring these trains to Beckton-Stratford. I prefer a train that sometimes stops in a wrong place, then no trains at all.
The DLR B23 Stock trains were to enter service last year but it seems that these new trains won’t be in service until Autumn or Winter this year. Hence why there’s been lots of problems with the new B23 Stock trains.
I do expect to see the new B23 DLR stocks entering service in late summer. Since DLR have ordered 54 new DLR stocks to replace the B90, B92 and B2K stocks.
I still expect to see the new DLR B23 Stock to enter passenger service at least couple months time. I’ll be looking forward to seeing them coming into service on the rest of the DLR network throughout 2026, 2027 and beyond.