The Docklands Light Railway's new trains have returned to service in east London, following a temporary withdrawal last October due to a braking issue. The first of the new trains reappeared on the Woolwich Arsenal to Stratford International branch on Monday, September 7, after rigorous braking trials.
Delayed rollout and earlier setback
The long-awaited trains were originally scheduled to enter service in autumn 2025. However, after one of the three trains introduced during the initial rollout failed to stop correctly in the rain at Canning Town station, all new stock was removed from the tracks for additional testing after just one month of operation.
According to Transport for London, the new fleet consists of 54 trains in total, which will be rolled out gradually. Once all trains are in operation, they are expected to increase capacity on the line by 50 percent. The new trains feature air conditioning, power points for charging phones, and a walk-through design without doors between carriages.
Contractor issues and storage in Spain
Apart from the October mishap, the rollout was also delayed by a contractor entering administration, which halted the construction of new sidings in Beckton. As a result, the trains had to be stored in Spain, where they were built. During this period, DLR services were affected by weekend and evening cuts, which reduced Transport for London's revenue.
Mayor welcomes new trains
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: 'This is an exciting day for east and south London, as the first new state-of-the-art DLR train enters service.'
'These modern new trains are fantastic and will transform travel for millions of Londoners, significantly improving comfort, accessibility and reliability. The additional capacity will also support further growth, particularly in parts of the Royal Docks and the Isle of Dogs where the DLR is the most-used mode of transport, supporting new jobs and homes,' Khan added.
One downside for passengers
However, there is one drawback to the improvements: each new train will now feature only one of the popular forward-facing transverse seats, where passengers can pretend they are driving the train. Commuters may need to board a stop earlier if they wish to secure this seat.
The return of the new trains marks a significant step for the DLR, with the full fleet expected to provide increased capacity and improved passenger experience across east and south London.
