First DLR B90 sent for scrap

With the Docklands Light Railway set to get a fleet of new trains from 2024 (currently being built by CAF) it was inevitable that the long-standing fleet of trains dating from the early and mid-1990s would not have much of a future and now the first of these has been sent for scrap with B90 39 heading on a one way trip to Rotherham – the ultimate destination of many a last journey of UK light rail and heavy rail vehicles.

39 was one of 23 Class B90 trains built by BN Construction (later to become part of Bombardier) in Brugge, Belgium. Originally delivered in the flat red, blue and white livery it latterly carried the more wavy fleet livery including a blue “river” as well as black ends. The unit has not seen use for many years with its last day of operation being on 13th May 2016. It was confirmed earlier this year that there were no plans for its be repaired and it had long been used as a source of spare parts.

It was collected from Beckton Depot on Thursday 27th October to make the trip to CF Booths in Rotherham with work soon underway to scrap it and become the first of the B90s to be scrapped.

All of the B90s will, in turn, be withdrawn from service and will presumably be scrapped unless a new home can be found for them.

The new trains are being built by CAF with 43 due to be delivered to East London. Unlike previous DLR trains they will not require coupling to other units as they are longer, also,adding security as they enabled full walkthrough from one end to the other and the on board member of staff will no longer have to continually swap between units. Originally due to enter service in 2023 it is now expected that it will be 2024 before the first carries passengers.

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5 Responses to First DLR B90 sent for scrap

  1. Paul says:

    Surely DLR have not heard about CAF’s shoddy workmanship that as effected trams and trains which come with cracks in the floor and door frames.

    And we all know what CAF stand’s for

    • Nigel Pennick says:

      British transport systems mainly ordering stock from overseas industries do no good to the British economy. Since Brexit there has been no necessity to seek tenders from foreign producers. But clearly British industry has been so depleted over the years that at the present time no factory in the UK can make what is needed. Consequently the debacle over the Midland Metro trams, etc.

      • johnb78 says:

        The economic point of buying rolling stock for transport systems in London is to allow people in London to get around and do their jobs, not to subsidise chippy Northerners by overpaying for British Leyland-quality trams when they can just buy them off the shelf from high-volume global manufacturers..

    • John says:

      So much like Bombardier trams and trains, Hitachi trains are then any supplier who deliver on time and functional?

  2. John Hibbert says:

    British Leyland quality in question? Those BR Pacers, albeit unpopular, lasted a while.
    Leyland works is still turning out high quality trucks – DAF badged.

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