Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed the timeline for the rollout of its fleet of 54 new trains across the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). The first new train re-entered service in September, following a brief hold on the upgrade in November last year due to a braking fault at Canning Town station.
Passengers have begun to notice more new services on the route between Stratford International and Woolwich Arsenal, the first to benefit from the rollout. A 'bedding-in period' will continue for the remainder of 2026 before the project gathers momentum on January 10 with new services covering the entire branch.
Rollout Expansion and New Features
The same day will also see the rollout expanded with the first B23s appearing between Bank and Lewisham, according to new details released under the Freedom of Information Act. TfL is not only refreshing the old batch of trains built in the 1990s and early 2000s, but the project is also aiming to increase services and provide more direct routes.
The state-of-the-art trains will include walk-through carriages, air conditioning, live travel information and have dedicated wheelchair spaces. Overall, the changes will increase capacity on the line by 10 per cent.
Service Restoration and Frequency Increases
In February 2027, TfL will begin restoring services between Stratford International and Lewisham, which are currently only available during peak times. Services will also be bolstered at busy times during this period between Canning Town and Beckton.
TfL is then aiming for its entire Bank to Lewisham branch to be served by new B23s, followed by the Bank to Woolwich branch by October 31. The longer-term plan involves the new fleet covering all journeys between Tower Gateway and Beckton from March 5, 2028, and their introduction between Stratford and Lewisham from April 16, the same year.
Throughout 2028, rail bosses have set out several milestones on increasing the general frequency of services on each DLR. The upgrade project is then expected to finish on February 4, 2030, when trains between Stratford International and Woolwich Arsenal are increased to 15 per hour.
Official Statement and Safety Assurance
Announcing the rollout last month, Stuart Harvey, TfL's Chief Capital Officer, said: "We're pleased that the first of our new DLR trains has returned to customer service following the completion of a thorough programme of modifications, testing and assurance.
"Safety is always our top priority, and we took the decision to remove the trains from service as a precaution while we worked with CAF to investigate the issue and implement a solution.
"I apologise for the delay in reintroducing the trains, but I am pleased this marks an important milestone in delivering a modern new fleet for the DLR. As we begin the phased reintroduction of the trains, customers will start to benefit from more spacious and accessible journeys, while we continue to monitor performance and introduce further trains into service."
