(picture: Tom Page)

The first three of 54 new trains being built by CAF for the Docklands Light Railway have been withdrawn. Transport for London said there had been ‘an issue with braking performance during wet weather on one train’.

The introduction of the B23s was delayed for over a year, because of difficulties in achieving compatability with the DLR’s control system.

TfL said it had launched an investigation into the braking incident, and that the three B23s which had entered service since last month have been withdrawn.

Engineering teams from TfL, operator KeolisAmey Docklands and manufacturer CAF are ‘working hard together to understand and resolve this issue, which occurred when a train did not stop in the correct position at a platform because of low adhesion due to wet weather’. 

TfL added that this is not an issue with the existing fleet, but it cannot say when the new trains will return to service.

TfL chief capital officer Stuart Harvey said: ‘I’m sorry that we’ve had to withdraw the new DLR trains from service, but safety is always our top priority and we need to understand what happened before returning them to service. Introducing new trains is never without challenges and until our engineering teams complete their investigations, we will continue to operate DLR services using our existing fleet. I know customers are keen to see these new trains on the network, but we must get this right to deliver the safe reliable service that Londoners expect.’

TfL has assured passengers that normal service levels are being maintained, and that when the inquiry is complete and any necessary changes have been made, a review will then be carried out to see if the timescale of the outstanding deliveries is affected.

What do you think? Click here to let us know.