TfL has finally found a manufacturer to build new DLR trains to replace 33 of the old DLR trains manufactured by Bombardier. The manufacturer who won the contract is Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A (CAF) and they will be building 43 new DLR trains.
Extracts from TfL press release
Customers using the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will benefit from more frequent and reliable journeys from 2023, after Transport for London (TfL) today announced it has awarded a contract to replace the oldest trains currently serving the railway.
TfL has awarded the contract to design and manufacture the trains to Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A (CAF). The order will replace the oldest rolling stock on the DLR which are nearly thirty years old and have come to the end of their design life. These are in vital need of replacement to ensure a reliable service is maintained for customers.
With over 400,000 journeys made each weekday, the DLR is currently the busiest light railway in the UK. The new trains will provide more frequent direct services to the growing employment centre and cultural hub at Stratford, allowing people from across south east 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.
Jon Fox, TfL's Director of Rail and Sponsored Services, said: "Replacing the oldest trains on the DLR and introducing a new modern fleet will ensure the railway continues to support the current and future growth in the Docklands area. With walk-through carriages, real time travel information, air conditioning and mobile device charging points, the new trains will provide customers with a more comfortable and reliable service, replacing rolling stock that are nearly 30 years old and coming to the end of their operational life."
The new fleet of walk through trains are expected to start entering passenger service from 2023 providing a number of customer improvements, including the latest audio and visual real-time travel information, air conditioning and mobile device charging points. They will 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 or luggage.
The modernisation of the DLR is a key part of the Mayor's Transport Strategy to make London a greener, more accessible place to live, work and visit as well as supporting new jobs and homes. The investment in improving public transport will help reduce reliance on the car and contribute to the Mayor's target of 80 per cent of journeys made by public transport, cycling or walking by 2041
The DLR is entirely step free and currently has 45 stations and 38km (23.6 miles) of track.
The 43 trains in the initial contact include 33 to replace the oldest rolling stock on the DLR network and an additional 10 to boost capacity.
Extracts from CAF
The state-of-the-art 5-car trains will be based on CAF’s hugely successful Metro vehicle design, with the first entering passenger service from 2023. Thirty-three trains will replace DLR’s oldest rolling stock which is nearly thirty years old and 10 will increase frequency and capacity across the network.
The new trains will be a similar length to the current 3-car trains currently operating on the DLR but providing a number of customer improvements. This includes the latest audio and visual real-time travel information, air conditioning, mobile device charging points, multi-use areas - which can accommodate pushchairs, bicycles and luggage - and dedicated wheelchair spaces.
Richard Garner, CAF's UK Director comments: "We are delighted to be awarded such a significant contract by Transport for London to supply trains for the UK's busiest light railway.
"CAF's Metro vehicle design is ideally placed to meet the specific demands of this unique operation, not only increasing passenger capacity, but delivering the very latest in comfort, convenience and safety for passengers. These trains will support the Mayor of London’s Transport Strategy to make London a greener, more accessible place to live, work and visit as well as supporting new jobs and homes.
"It is the latest in a number of recent awards including the supply and maintenance of DMU’s for the Wales and Borders Franchise, the rehabilitation of 43 RER MI2N units for the Paris Metro network and the supply and maintenance of 29 regional diesel-electric units for the Australian state of New South Wales."
It will be interesting to see where the old Bombardier DLR trains will end up once the new DLR rolling stock enters service in a couple of years time.
Also, in a few years time, we are expecting the New Tube for London to enter service; they are manufactured by Siemens Mobility.
Here's some videos of the DLR trains in action.
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