New DLR train delays: Transport for London still hope for 2025 start
Transport for London are still targeting a 2025 introduction for new DLR trains now running around a year late.
A report before TfL’s Programmes and Investment Committee states that new stock and resulting increase in capacity is the only TfL milestone project with no confirmed date:
“We have one milestone where the forecast date is yet to be confirmed: DLR rolling stock: Supplying the capability to allow sufficient trains in service to provide the first capacity uplift.
“The forecast date is subject to the confirmation of when the new trains will be introduced into passenger service. We are working to bring the new trains into service as quickly as possible, and before the end of 2025. We will provide a further update when we have more information.”
That last sentence still leaves some concern with information thin on the ground. The first trains were due in service before April 2024.
During testing one train overshot a stop point and delays have been impacting both passengers and TfL. Extra costs to store completed trains in Spain have needed to be met by Transport for London while passengers have seen extensive line closures and reduced services also impacting fare revenue.
Next weekend, to give one example, sees much of the network closed including busy stretches between “Bank and Tower Gateway to Canning Town and Lewisham, Canary Wharf to Stratford”.
Weekdays have also seen reduced services with one last month and another in April.
This is generally timed for Fridays as passenger number are lower than other weekdays, and also coincides with school holidays.
Lewisham line improvements
One major aim of the new trains is to improve capacity from Lewisham to Canary Wharf which passes many major development sites.
Lewisham has seen a number of large-scale residential projects recently complete with others planned including at Lewisham Retail Park beside the station where a consultation was held last week, as well as the shopping centre redevelopment.
Other large projects are planned beside stations including Deptford Bridge, Greenwich and across the river onto the Isle of Dogs.
Canary Wharf continues to see a number of towers including work now underway at North Quay beside both West India Quay and Poplar stations.
Other DLR projects
The report also covers other upgrades on the DLR network including signalling nothing that “A replacement contract for signalling works has been awarded and the project passed its first design review gate in October 2024.”
However issues have arisen elsewhere: “High-voltage works at Beckton have been delayed due to power resilience issues”.
On the bright side new Beckton Depot Southern Sidings were brought into use over Christmas 2024.
Total costs for the project including trains, sidings expansion, signalling and power works that’ll see 32 30-year old trains replaced with 54 new, walk-through replacements stands at £942 million.
Of that total £257.5m is grant funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government with £300m in loans from the National Wealth Fund according to the report.
