Article updated 20/6/25 following TfL press release confirming changes.
Transport for London have confirmed that a new timetable is to be introduced on the DLR from Monday 21st July. Although exact details of the make-up of this new timetable have yet to be formally announced it is expected to be a reduction in services whilst the wait goes on for the introduction of the new trains.
The DLR is currently in the process of testing a fleet of new trains built by CAF. 54 of these fully walkthrough units are on order and they were originally due to be introduced from late 2023. However, as with so many new train fleets their introduction has been delayed, with a number of factors to blame.
The primary reason for the delay is down to issues discovered in using the trains with the current signalling system. This has required some changes and whilst testing is now back underway having been suspended for a time its still expected to be a while before any of the trains are ready for service.
This does mean that the oldest of the trains in the fleet – made up of 92 B90/B92/B2K units – which are all due to be eventually withdrawn – are having to be kept going and with maintenance a continued issue the DLR will be looking to “reduce mileage” of these units.
And the easiest way to reduce mileage? To reduce the timetable. This will presumably see a reduction in frequencies on some lines, although reducing the length of some trains is also a possibility.
It should be remembered that although only 54 trains are on order, they will not only be replacing the older trains but also adding capacity as the current fleet is much shorter with them running in pairs or threes when in service.
It is currently believed that four of the new CAF trains are at Beckton depot – 201, 203, 209 and 238.
TfL have confirmed the following service changes will be introduced:
- Beckton to Canning Town/Stratford International services will not run (Tower Gateway to Beckton services run as normal)
- Peak hour services from Stratford to Lewisham will not run (services will run as normal Stratford to Canary Wharf – every 5 minutes peak periods, every 6.5 minutes off-peak). Bank to Lewisham services run as normal.
This will allow some units to be withdrawn and TfL are commited to reintroducing these services as soon as enough new trains are in operation. The first should enter service later this year.
Stuart Harvey, TfL’s Chief Capital Officer, said: “The testing of the new DLR trains is progressing well and customers will start to be able to use these modern trains later this year. The new trains will ensure a more frequent and reliable service across the network and support growth in the Docklands and beyond.
“We need to begin retiring some of the oldest trains, meaning some short-term timetable changes are required. We apologise for this inconvenience to customers, but they are necessary to ensure we can maintain the safest most reliable service.”