First Look: New Docklands Light Railway trains with USB chargers and air conditioning unveiled

The first of a new fleet of Docklands Light Railway (DLR) trains has been unveiled in Beckton, east London.

A total of 54 of the turquoise-painted trains will enter service between 2024 and 2026, some replacing trains that have been in service since the 1990s.

The new trains feature a walk-through design that will increase capacity on each train by 10% as well as real-time travel information displays, air conditioning and mobile device charging points.

The fleet also has a new moquette seat fabric called Poplar and has extra space for wheelchairs, prams and bikes.

Andy Lord, London’s transport commissioner, said: “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.”

Some 33 of the new trains will replace the DLR’s oldest rolling stock, which is more than 30 years old and coming to the end of its design life.

The remaining 21 will boost capacity across the network.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities funded 11 new trains after TfL made a successful bid to the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Train firm Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) delivered the first train in January, two months ahead of schedule, and seven others are undergoing testing.

TfL expects to have received the first 12 trains by the end of March. The last new train is due to enter service by 2026.

Testing will initially take place overnight and during some planned closures. Later this year, test trains will also run during the day in gaps between normal services.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The DLR is a vital transport option for parts of our city, contributing to making the capital a more accessible place to live, work and visit as well as supporting new jobs and homes.

“With over 90 million journeys made each year it is currently the busiest light railway in the UK and its modernisation forms a key part of my vision to make London a greener, fairer and more prosperous city for all.”