Transport for London (TfL) has finally revealed what its new Docklands Light Railway (DLR) trains will look like ahead of their release in 2024.
The DLR connects parts of east London to the likes of City Airport and Canary Wharf and is one of the most popular modes of transport across the capital.
With several key differences having already been shared with the public, pictures and videos of the futuristic-looking carriages have now been released.
The trains have been given a major revamp on the outside with the red, black and blue colour scheme being replaced by white and turquoise.
Peeking inside the new carriages, the colour scheme also reflects the bright shade of blue.
Inside, they more resemble the District and Circle lines with rows of seats along the sides and walk-through carriages.
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And the beloved ‘driver’s seats’ at the front of the train are still in pride of place.
Other extras include green neon lights and USB charging ports, which are also on the Overground.
The will be improved facilities for those with mobility impairments with three multi-use areas in addition to three dedicated wheelchair spaces.
These multi-use areas can also be used to accommodate pushchairs, bicycles and luggage.
Another key difference riders not seen in the pictures is a change to on-board announcements.
Gone will be the recognisable female voice over and in its place will be automatic text-to-speech software.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan explained why the changes were so important during his visit to the Beckton depot.
He 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.’
Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, added: ‘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.’
The DLR operates across six Opportunity Areas in London, which have the potential to provide more than 124,000 homes and 200,000 jobs.
There are around 45,000 of these homes either already under construction or with planning permission within walking distance of the DLR.
The new DLR trains will be introduced in 2024 before a complete roll out on the whole network by 2026.
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