Transport for London are starting the search for 43 trains for the Docklands Light Railway with the fleet set to enter service from 2022. The trains – which will be “walk-through and air-conditioned” – will replace 33 of the current fleet with an additional 10 required to boost capacity at busy times.
It is planned that the new trains will increase capacity by over 30% which is considered vital with continued significant redevelopment in the Docklands area. In addition passenger numbers are expected to increase further when the DLR interchanges (at Canary Wharf, West India Quay and Custom House) with the new Elizabeth line from 2018.
TfL has published a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) seeking expressions of interest from the train manufacturing industry to build the new units. A formal Invitation to Tender will be issued later this year with the contract awarded in Summer 2018 ahead of an entry into service in 2022.
Danny Price, TfL’s Director of DLR, said: “These new trains will enable us to increase capacity on the DLR by 30 %, significantly improving the comfort, reliability and quality of our service for customers. Ordering them now ensures that we get the best value for money in the long term and can support continuing growth in east London. We intend to go out to tender later this year with the new trains entering service from 2022.”
It is expected that the entire B90 fleet will be withdrawn as a result of this new order with some members of the B92 class also falling by the wayside.