New Trains Arrive on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR ) After Delays
The BBC news service is reporting that the first of 54 new trains for the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) are being introduced to London’s transport network after a two-year delay. The new DLR fleet was due to arrive in April 2024, but its arrival was delayed until October 2025.
The first of London’s new air-conditioned DLR trains has returned to service after 10 months off the tracks.
It follows a summer of back-to-back heatwaves in the capital, which left passengers sweltering across London’s transport network, as temperatures reached 37C on some Underground lines on the hottest days.
The return of the first of 54 new air-conditioned trains is therefore likely to come as welcome news for many commuters.
The trains were initially introduced in September 2025 but were taken out of service just six weeks later, in November 2025, as a precautionary measure after one of the automated units overshot a station platform during wet weather.
Their withdrawal meant passengers went through the summer without the new air-conditioned fleet as London was hit by repeated spells of hot weather.
Engineers traced the issue to a fault with the braking software under low rail adhesion conditions.
Stuart Harvey, TfL’s chief capital officer, said: “I aprecaution after one of the automated units overshot a station platform inpologise for the delay in reintroducing the trains but am pleased this marks an important milestone in delivering a modern new fleet for the DLR.”
In November, TfL said it had removed all trains “as a precaution while TfL and manufacturer CAF investigated the issue and developed a solution”. The modifications have now been completed and trains have undergone a “comprehensive programme of testing in a range of operating conditions”.
The phased reintroduction of the fleet will begin on the Stratford International to Woolwich Arsenal route, according to TfL, with more added “gradually”.
London Mayor Sir 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.”