TfL has spent around more than an estimated £942m on new DLR trains - but the majority of them are currently stuck in Spain. The 54 air-conditioned trains were slated to begin entering into service in April, but the project has been hit by difficulties, with 36 of the 40 already built stuck in Spain. Those trains remain in the CAF factory, where they were built, after signalling difficulties and the collapse of a TfL contractor behind a depot required to store the trains in London.
They were ordered to replace 33 existing trains on the DLR network, some of which are more than three decades old. A TfL spokesperson attributed the delay to the collapse of Buckingham Group in 2023, the contractor behind a new depot for the trains. The company said at the time it had collapsed due to “extreme inflation linked to the Ukraine conflict”. The delay was also 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.
The fault was discovered after a new train slid beyond a stopping point during testing. However, TfL chiefs insist the new trains will begin entering service “as quickly as possible” and that all 54 new trains will be running by summer next year. A TfL spokesperson said: “We're introducing 54 new trains to replace the 33 oldest trains in our fleet, some of which are more than 30 years old. “The new trains will help us to improve the frequency and reliability of services and support population and employment growth across the network, particularly in parts of the Royal Docks and the Isle of Dogs where the DLR is the main transport option.
“These trains are being kept in storage in Spain while we wait for them to come into service. “The delay in them coming to the UK was partially due to the signalling issues but also a result of our main contractor to build the required depot going into administration. We’re working hard to ensure they come into service as quickly as possible and before the end of this year.”. Four of the new trains are currently in London undergoing testing, while 14 more are yet to be fully built.
