Transport for London has set train fans’ tongues a-wagging with just unveiled pictures of the all-new DLR trains due to hit London next year. The trains will be hitting London tracks with a new turquoise and grey colourway, and a shake-up to the seating. The forward-facing seats will largely be replaced with an along-the-wall banquette seating layout, mirroring that found on most Tube trains. However, fret not, they’re not getting rid of the front row of seats – so the lucky few can still ‘drive the DLR’.
The new carriages will all be walk-through, with increased space and capacity due to the new seating layout. This will increase the capacity of the trains by 10%, while also providing better facilities for those with mobility impairments. Multi-use areas will be added to the carriages, as well as dedicated wheelchair spaces. The multi-use areas will ensure space for pushchairs, bicycles and luggage.
Carriages will also feature air-conditioning throughout, as well as USB charging ports – so there’s no chance of you getting stuck with a dead phone on the train, unable to avoid people’s gazes. The new carriages will also feature “the latest audio and visual real-time travel information”.
Some of the new trains have already arrived from the manufacturer, ahead of schedule – thus the photos. And these will slowly start to go into testing overnight, during engineering hours, and during some planned closures. However, later this year, test trains will run during the day in gaps between normal services. So you’re almost certain to clap eyes on the new turquoise trains before you’re able to board them. Just keep lookout by your local section of DLR track at night!
When will we get the new DLR trains?
Customers can expect to benefit from the new DLR trains in 2024. Ooh, waiting for the new trains to come around feels like the last few nights of sleep in the lead up to Christmas!
It’s expected that all 54 of the new trains will be in operation on London’s DLR by 2026. 33 of these trains will be replacing older models currently operating on the DLR, with the rest increasing services across the lines.
Said Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, of the new DLR trains:
“These new state-of-the-art DLR trains will transform journeys for our customers and help support future growth in east London, which benefits the UK’s economy as a whole. The trains will now go through testing ahead of introduction in 2024 to ensure they provide the reliability both we and our customers expect. I look forward to seeing these across the network and helping contribute to the DLR’s continuing success.”
Well, we can’t wait to catch a ride on these ne DLR trains. We’re also glad to finally see the colour co-ordination between DLR trains and DLR signage that was so sorely missing. Turquoise signs and turquoise trains = calmer mind.