The DRL train fleet of 54 units which have begun entering passenger service in London, benefit from Hitachi Rail’s advanced communication technology.
This milestone showcases Hitachi Rail’s digital CBTC signalling, which underpins the safety, reliability and availability of the new fleet. With more than 100 million passengers annually across 45 stations, the DLR’s performance is crucial to the city’s growth, and Hitachi Rail’s technology is at the heart of its future.
“For more than three decades, we have supported the growth and evolution of the DLR network, helping ensure it remains modern, reliable, and accessible for Londoners today and into the future. By integrating our digital CBTC signalling, we are helping to shape a railway that continues to lead the way in urban mobility and will serve the capital for decades to come,” Andrew Bell, Vice President, Hitachi Rail UK, said. As a trusted technology partner for CBTC signalling on the DLR for over three decades,
Hitachi Rail has supported successive extensions and upgrades across the network, including the Lewisham (1999), London City Airport (2005), and Woolwich Arsenal (2009) expansions, ensuring reliable services for millions of passengers. Company’s advanced communication technology represents its commitment to digital innovation in sustainable mobility.
In 2019, Transport for London awarded CAF a EUR 400 million contract for the supply of 43 trains and in 2023 DfT exercised an option and ordered 11 additional trains. From the end of 2026, the entire DRL train fleet will be introduced, boosting the overall capacity on the network by more than 60 per cent. Each train features 10 per cent more capacity and also provides better 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.
KeolisAmey has been selected for an 8-year contract to continue operating and maintaining the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in London.
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