The two Metro type light rail systems we cover on British Trams Online have recently seen further deliveries of new trains to their respective main depots. The Docklands Light Railway now have two of their CAF Inneo vehicles in East London whilst three is the number for the Tyne and Wear Metro following the delivery of another of their Stadler built units.
On the Docklands Light Railway the latest example to be delivered is 203, which is the second of the Inneo trains to arrive (201 being the first). It started to arrive on 9th March (due to their length they are being delivered in sections by road) with it being delivered directly to Beckton Depot. In total 54 of these trains are on order with them due to replace the B90, B92 and B2K units.
Not long after 203 was delivered and 201 started to be tested outside of the confines of the depot. Now carrying special vinyls (stating “Our new DLR trains are under wraps”) in a bid to stop anyone trying to board them whilst they are being tested the testing is being undertaken both after service and also on lines during daylight hours when they may be closed to the public for engineering works. One such trip was over the weekend of 1st/2nd April with the Stratford International branch used as there were works which had seen this closed.
Heading north and the third of the Tyne and Wear Metro Stadler trains was delivered on Thursday 6th April. This was 555 005 which again made its way by rail to the northeast before arriving at Gosforth Depot in the early hours of the morning.
It joins 555 003 and 555 004 at the depot with testing around the confines of the depot underway as part of the major commissioning process. Further testing out on the mainline will follow ahead of mileage accumulation and driver training. Its expected that the first of the trains will enter service before the end of the year with all 46 cleared for use by 2025.