The Funding Challenges Preventing the Original Launch Dates for the New Tube for London (2024 Stock) for the Bakerloo, Central, Piccadilly, and Waterloo & City Lines

A review of historical and recent Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosures outlines the development and subsequent changes to Transport for London's (TfL) plans for upgrading its deep-level Underground lines. What was originally structured as a coordinated programme across four lines has faced adjustments due to changing financial structures, funding constraints, and macroeconomic factors.

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 2024 Tube Stock for the Piccadilly line, now expected to enter service between July and December 2026

As I’ve been keeping an eye on the Freedom of Information disclosure log on the Transport for London (TfL) website, I noticed that they have published a response to a member of the public who requested information regarding delays to the 2024 Tube Stock (also known as the New Tube for London) for the Piccadilly line.

This is a follow-up to my previous article, in which I reported on delays to the DLR rolling stock B23, now expected to enter service later in 2025.

The first test train for the new Piccadilly line fleet has arrived in
London 🤩🚆

This train will undergo intensive testing before the new fleet starts entering passenger service by the end of next year.

Find out more 👇https://t.co/KJZWXspHNO pic.twitter.com/0ix3MkEi5c

— TfL (@TfL) October 16, 2024

Request ID: FOI-1609-2526
Date published: 24 September 2025

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

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

The 'New Tube for London' for the Piccadilly Line Under Construction in Goole, UK, and 32 Enviro100EV Small Electric Buses for London Bus Routes 233, R1, R3, R4 and R8

The New Tube for London under construction and the Enviro100EV - © Siemens and Alexander Dennis

Today (3rd October) has been big news for manufacturing in England as we see the 'New Tube for London' 2024 rolling stock for the Piccadilly line and 32 Alexander Dennis Enviro100EV small electric buses for London Bus Routes 233, R1, R3, R4 and R8.

From Siemens UK

The Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh and the Mayor of London attended the grand opening of the Goole Train Manufacturing Facility, a significant milestone for Siemens Mobility and the future of rail transportation in the region. Alongside the opening, Siemens Mobility announced a substantial investment of up to £40 million in a state-of-the-art Bogie Assembly and Service Centre, further solidifying its commitment to the region.

The new Bogie Assembly and Service Centre will incorporate and expand Siemens Mobility’s current capabilities to overhaul bogies from UK trains, including the 3,224 strong fleet of vehicles (572 trains) it maintains in the UK, and will also include new production lines for assembling bogies for new trains, a first for Siemens in the UK.

TfL Orders 10 More New Class 345 Trains For The Elizabeth Line With Alstom To Increase Capacity

Elizabeth line fleet at Old Oak Common depot during the day - Photo by Alstom

Alstom has signed a £370 million contract with Transport for London (TfL) to supply 10 nine-car Aventra trains for the Elizabeth line, helping to continue jobs and the supply chain in manufacturing.

Text from Alstom Press release

Contract worth around €430 million for 10 nine-car Aventra trains and maintenance until 2046

London Bus Tender Awards: New Electric Buses For Routes 101, 262, 396, 439, 473 & E6

Route branding livery for London Bus Express Route X26

As we are in July 2023, Transport for London has announced on the new London Bus Tender Awards that routes 101, 262, 396, 439, 473 and E6 will be using new electric buses by next year (2024).

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

Mid-February 2023 Transport News Round-Up: UK Government Extends £2 Bus Fare Till June, New DLR Trains Unveiled, TfL Fare Rises From March, All-Electric Bus Towns for Athlone, Ireland & Inverness, Scotland, Ensignbus Sells to First Group and More

Since I haven’t posted an article for a month. I’ve decided to post a round-up of various transport news stories that happened during this month and last month (January).

Firstly, here’s the news recently published by the Department for Transport extending their £2 bus fare scheme in England till the end of June 2023.

From Department for Transport

TfL and Siemens Mobility Unveil Design of the New London Underground Piccadilly Line Trains

It’s been a while since I’ve posted London Underground related content on my website.

Recently, Siemens Mobility and TfL have unveiled the design of the new Tube Trains for the Piccadilly Line, expecting to enter passenger service from 2025.

From Siemens Mobility Press Release

Transport for London (TfL) and Siemens Mobility have today unveiled the detailed design of the new generation Tube trains for the Piccadilly line, which will soon be in production to replace the existing 1970s fleet.

The trains currently running on the line have become increasingly unreliable and expensive to maintain and will be 50 years old by the time they are replaced. Despite the devastating impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on its finances, TfL is continuing to replace these assets, meaning that from 2025, new spacious ‘Inspiro London’ trains will serve customers on the Piccadilly line, future-proofed to ensure they are suitable for many years to come.

New Trains for Overground - London Bus tender awards and more NRM routes convert to front door only boarding

This is a short article covering two recent transport related news items.

First of all, the new Class 710 is now serving the Lea Valley lines which are operated by London Overground.

January 2020 Transport news roundup: New trains for Nexus Tyne and Wear Metro and the rise of electric buses for Europe!

First of all, due to the lack of articles during the last month, I’ve decided to feature most of this months transport news in one article.

Nexus has placed an order for new trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro in North East of England.

Extracts from Nexus

28 January 2020

Nexus today announced a chosen manufacturer for its contract to build new trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro, as part of a £362m investment which will transform performance and passenger experience, deliver huge energy savings and secure and create hundreds of jobs in the UK supply chain.

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.

Class 710 trains start to serve the London Overground GOBLIN service

I realise this news is overdue but I would like to cover the new Overground train on my website.

Extracts from TfL press release

Class 717’s for Great Northern, Enviro400H City buses for Route 20 and London Bus Tender awards

The Class 717’s have finally entered service on National Rail’s Great Northern routes serving the Moorgate branch.

Extract from Govia

For the first time in 40 years, passengers are riding on new trains in the tunnels to London Moorgate, as Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) begins to replace mainland Britain’s oldest electric rail fleet.

In a £240 million investment, 150 new carriages are being introduced between now and late summer, to replace trains that first entered service in 1976.

New trains for Greater Anglia and Great Northern

Greater Anglia has announced they are testing their new Class 745 and 755 trains manufactured by Stadler Rail.

From Greater Anglia

Watch out for Greater Anglia’s brand new trains – which are being tested in daylight on more routes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex from later this month.

Greater Anglia is replacing every single train with brand new state-of-the-art trains which will start to come into service in the middle of this year.

TfL unveils the ‘maintenance train’ for the Crossrail Elizabeth Line

First of all, my apologies for the lack of articles recently which is due to the fact that I haven’t found many newsworthy articles to report on - I have however found one article from TfL reporting on the new maintenance train which will be used on the upcoming Crossrail Elizabeth Line.

From TfL press release

Rail milling train is the first of its kind in the UK rail industry.

Three new bespoke maintenance trains built in Europe will maintain London's newest railway.

TfL unveils the new Class 710 for the London Overground

TfL has unveiled the new Class 710, manufactured by Bombardier which will soon to be used on the Lea Valley Lines, Gospel Oak to Barking Line (GOBLIN), Watford DC Line and Romford to Upminster Line.

From TfL press release

The new trains will carry almost 700 people per train and feature a high capacity walk- through layout, Wi-Fi and USB charging points and a brand new seat moquette.

TfL awards Siemens Mobility to build 94 new trains for the Piccadilly Line

TfL ended the rollout for the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemaster bus, but they have now announced that Siemens Mobility will be building 94 new trains for the London Underground Piccadilly Line.

From TfL Press Release

Siemens Mobility Limited to design and manufacture 94 new, state-of-the-art Deep Tube trains to serve the Piccadilly line

Old Oak Common depot is built for new Crossrail Elizabeth Line

In preparation for TfL Rail taking over the Heathrow Connect services, the new Old Oak Common depot is ready for the new services which will begin on 20^th May 2018.

From TfL Press Release

Old Oak Common depot will support new TfL Rail services from Paddington to Heathrow, which begins on Sunday 20 May