New B23 Rolling Stock for the Docklands Light Railway Finally Enters Passenger Service

A debut at dawn.
TfL Image - New DLR train

At last! The new Docklands Light Railway B23 rolling stock, manufactured by CAF, finally entered passenger service on 30th September 2025.

Here is the press release from Transport for London (TfL):

Transport for London reveals reason for delays to new DLR rolling stock B23, expected to enter service later in 2025

After a long hiatus, the new £942 million Docklands Light Railway rolling stock B23 is finally back in trial service. Transport for London (TfL) has explained the reasons for the delay in response to a Freedom of Information request.

Your exclusive sneak peek of the new DLR trains 👀

Coming soon. Find out more about the new features ⬇️ https://t.co/eYvOKFOfjy pic.twitter.com/DLHxD2aTgt

— TfL (@TfL) September 1, 2025

Request ID: FOI-1452-2526
Date published: 08 September 2025

Reimagining the Silvertown Tunnel: A Case for Tram Integration

Map of the Silvertown Tunnel
Image - Transport for London (TfL)

This article follows up on my previous suggestion to explore the conversion of bus lanes and priority measures for tram use. It's important to remember that bus lanes and priority schemes aren't solely for buses; they also play a crucial role in enabling emergency services to improve their response times and potentially save lives by avoiding heavy traffic congestion.

Transport for London Reveals Delays Rolling Out The New CAF B23 Rolling Stock For The DLR, And Increasing Journey Times

B23 Rolling Stock - © TfL

A Freedom of Information request to Transport for London (TfL) has revealed reasons why the new B23 rolling stock, manufactured by CAF for the Docklands Light Railway, has been delayed instead of Spring 2024, as reported in my previous article early this year.

Request ID: FOI-1926-2425
Date published: 10 October 2024

Details of the challenges faced by TfL as part of the test of the new DLR Rolling Stock

List of London Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line and Docklands Light Railway Stations With Short Platforms and Selective Door Opening

A Freedom of Information request to Transport for London (TfL) has revealed a list of stations on the TfL network with short platforms and selective door opening (SDO).

Request ID: FOI-1716-2425
Date published: 20 September 2024

TfL awards contract to CAF to replace old DLR trains

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 reveals pre-qualified bidders to build new DLR trains

Now that TfL has stopped new purchases of three-door, two-staircase hybrid buses known as New Routemasters, they have revealed pre-qualified bidders to manufacture new trains for the Docklands Light Railway.

From TfL press release

Transport for London (TfL) took a significant step today in its search for a manufacturer to design and build a new generation of trains for the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), by issuing an Invitation to Negotiate.

30 year anniversary of the Docklands Light Railway

TfL is celebrating the 30 year anniversary of the Docklands Light Railway. (DLR)

Back on the 30^th July 1985, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the Docklands Light Railway in East London. The purpose of the DLR was to regenerate the Docklands area of East London with an elevated light railway system.

TfL searches for supplier to build new DLR rolling stock trains

Transport for London (TfL) has announced in their press release about the new trains for the driverless Docklands Light Railway system.

From TfL press release

Customers on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) are set to benefit from new walk-through air-conditioned trains from 2022.

The new trains, which will increase capacity by over 30%, will be more reliable and provide customers with real time information, air-conditioning and mobile device charging points.

Bus and Light Rail videos - February 2017

To round this month off, I will show you my videos which feature London Buses, Tramlink, and Docklands Light Railway services.

Buses and Trams outside East Croydon station

Buses and Trams outside East Croydon station by clondoner92

Rebuild of Custom House DLR station starts in February

The Custom House DLR station which serves the ExCeL centre in East London is set to be rebuilt on 3^rd February 2017 to link with the new Crossrail service.

2016 Tube map from a 2004 perspective

Since the Evening Standard and The Independent newspapers have written about this I thought I would add some more detail to those proposed services from the map.

I've only just found out about the 2016 Tube map from a 2004 proposal and a lot has changed when compared to the present one we have.

Light Rail systems in London (DLR and Trams)

Transport for London (TfL) currently have two Light Rail systems, the automated light rail which serves the City of London, East London and the Docklands, and the tram system which serves the South of London.

Docklands Light Railway

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is an automated light rail system, it carries almost 140 million passengers (from April 2014 to March 2015 annual report).

Video Journey on the DLR from Stratford to Canary Wharf

Docklands Light Railway
B92 + B2K Rolling Stock
Operated by KeolisAmey Docklands Ltd.
From Stratford to Canary Wharf
filmed on 12th June 2015

Docklands Light Railway for OpenBVE

Link to video

The Docklands Light Railway system is an automated Light rail system which serves Docklands as well as East London. During the 1990's Docklands Light Rail became automated, there is no driver but there is a Passenger Service Agent on board which takes care of passengers. In case the train fails, the PSA is able to take control of the train at the drivers console in the front of the train.

On the Video I be driving a B92 stock manufactured by Bombardier. The stations served on the videos as as follows.

Bank
Shadwell
Limehouse
Westferry
West India Quay
Canary Whalf
Heron Quays
South Quay
Crossharbour
Mudchute
Island Gardens
Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich
Greenwich

Light Rail systems in London (DLR and Trams)