Recliner
2024-06-21 10:04:47 UTC
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/new-trains-dlr-over-budget-delayed-tfl-london-b1165927.html
THE £880 million introduction of new air-conditioned trains on the
Docklands Light Railway has been delayed and is running £61 million over
budget.
Transport for London had hoped to start introducing the walk-through trains
by April, increasing capacity and frequency on the network that carries
99 million passengers a year across south and east London.
But the arrival of the first new train into passenger service has been
pushed back until “later this year”, meaning it could be six to nine months
late.
The delay has been caused by difficulties integrating the braking system on
the driverless trains with the track signalling system — while enabling the
existing DLR trains to keep running.
A new train slid beyond a stopping point during testing. A number of the
new trains, which are painted teal, have been seen for months undergoing
testing without passengers on board.
TfL commissioner Andy Lord said: “Bringing any new fleet of trains in is
always complex, and integrating it with the existing infrastructure and the
existing fleet.” The delay means that the DLR’s existing fleet, some of
which is 30 years old, is having to remain in service for longer than
expected. Some trains only have two rather than three carriages as a
result.
However, TfL chiefs insist all of the 54 new trains, which are being built
by CAF in Spain and will have five carriages, will be running by the end of
“summer 2026”. Eleven of the new trains have been funded by the Government.
Stuart Harvey, TfL’s chief capital officer, said: “The delivery of the new
trains is going well. The manufacturers are ahead of programme. We have
encountered an issue with the way the signalling system on the train and
the braking system is working. We now fully understand it. It is complex.
Importantly, we remain on track to get all the trains into service by
summer 2026.”
The new trains also feature improved accessibility, USB chargers and
real-time travel information. A total of 30 new trains are in various
stages of testing. The first arrived in January last year.
TfL has also faced difficulties constructing new sidings at Beckton depot,
due to a contractor entering administration, and is having to upgrade the
DLR’s power supply.
The upgrade will replace the 33 oldest trains of the existing red and blue
fleet and increase capacity by 60 per cent. Peak-hour services to Canary
Wharf and City Airport are often overcrowded.
Arran Rusling, TfL’s head of programme for DLR rolling stock replacement,
said: “We encountered some complex challenges, which means we will
introduce the new trains into passenger service later this year.”
THE £880 million introduction of new air-conditioned trains on the
Docklands Light Railway has been delayed and is running £61 million over
budget.
Transport for London had hoped to start introducing the walk-through trains
by April, increasing capacity and frequency on the network that carries
99 million passengers a year across south and east London.
But the arrival of the first new train into passenger service has been
pushed back until “later this year”, meaning it could be six to nine months
late.
The delay has been caused by difficulties integrating the braking system on
the driverless trains with the track signalling system — while enabling the
existing DLR trains to keep running.
A new train slid beyond a stopping point during testing. A number of the
new trains, which are painted teal, have been seen for months undergoing
testing without passengers on board.
TfL commissioner Andy Lord said: “Bringing any new fleet of trains in is
always complex, and integrating it with the existing infrastructure and the
existing fleet.” The delay means that the DLR’s existing fleet, some of
which is 30 years old, is having to remain in service for longer than
expected. Some trains only have two rather than three carriages as a
result.
However, TfL chiefs insist all of the 54 new trains, which are being built
by CAF in Spain and will have five carriages, will be running by the end of
“summer 2026”. Eleven of the new trains have been funded by the Government.
Stuart Harvey, TfL’s chief capital officer, said: “The delivery of the new
trains is going well. The manufacturers are ahead of programme. We have
encountered an issue with the way the signalling system on the train and
the braking system is working. We now fully understand it. It is complex.
Importantly, we remain on track to get all the trains into service by
summer 2026.”
The new trains also feature improved accessibility, USB chargers and
real-time travel information. A total of 30 new trains are in various
stages of testing. The first arrived in January last year.
TfL has also faced difficulties constructing new sidings at Beckton depot,
due to a contractor entering administration, and is having to upgrade the
DLR’s power supply.
The upgrade will replace the 33 oldest trains of the existing red and blue
fleet and increase capacity by 60 per cent. Peak-hour services to Canary
Wharf and City Airport are often overcrowded.
Arran Rusling, TfL’s head of programme for DLR rolling stock replacement,
said: “We encountered some complex challenges, which means we will
introduce the new trains into passenger service later this year.”