Press releases

2023/06/30

CAF SECURES CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR THE SUPPLY OF ADDITIONAL DLR TRAINS IN LONDON

CAF has secured an agreement to extend the contract awarded in June 2019 for the supply of trains for the DLR managed by Transport for London (TfL). This extension agreement includes the supply of 11 additional units, which will be added to the 43 initial units included in the contract. The contract amount of this extension surpasses €90 million.

Just like the previous units, the new ones will each consist of 5 cars and will offer a range of additional improvements for passengers, including state-of-the-art real-time visual and audio travel information, as well as air conditioning, mobile device charging stations, multi-purpose areas (for pushchairs, bicycles and luggage), and wheelchair spaces.

Indeed, the first unit of the initial contract was officially handed over in London last February; an event which was attended by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. In his words, he stressed that each of these new units would increase the capacity of the DLR train fleet by 10%; a system which, providing over 90 million journeys each year, is currently the most used light rail system in the United Kingdom.

Tom Page, TfL’s General Manager for the DLR, said: “These new DLR trains will transform thejourneys of millions of existing customers but will also give us the opportunity to welcome many more as new jobs and homes are created in east London and the Docklands area. Testing is progressing well ahead of the trains being introduced from 2024 and I really look forward to welcoming this new fleet to help contribute to the DLR’s continuing success.”

Richard Garner, CAF UK Director, said “CAF is absolutely thrilled to be supplying 11 additional trains to DLR to supplement the original order of 43 trains and play out part in the growth and accessibility of London”

Modernising the DLR is a major part of London's transport strategy, with the end goal being to transform the British capital city into a more environmentally friendly and more accessible place to live, work and visit, and drive employment and population at the same time. The investment intended to improve public transport in the city will help reduce people's dependence on cars and contribute towards the goal of 80% of all journeys being made using public transport, cycling or walking by 2040.

This contract further underpins CAF's recent track record in the UK railway market, reasserting the company's recent successes in the country. These include numerous contracts with various operators such as First Group, Serco Group, West Midlands Trains, KeolisAmey and the aforementioned Transport for London. The aggregate value of these projects which have played a significant part in upgrading some of the main train fleets operating in the country is in excess of €2,500 million.