Hitachi Rail Equips New DLR Fleet with CBTC Technology

Hitachi Rail has equipped the new fleet of 54 London Docklands Light Railway (DLR) trains with its Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling technology.

The trains have now begun entering passenger service across the line’s 45 stations, serving more than 100 million passengers annually.

Hitachi Rail has previously provided support for a number of projects across the capital’s DLR line, including the Lewisham, London City Airport, and Woolwich Arsenal expansions in 1999, 2005 and 2009, respectively.

32 existing 3-car DLR trains have now been replaced with 43 new trains, with an additional 11 units being introduced to increase overall capacity and bring the total fleet number to 54.

Andrew Bell, Vice President, Hitachi Rail UK, said:

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.

The DLR programme is also part of Hitachi Rail’s wider mission to rethink mobility, supporting cities worldwide in delivering greener, smarter, and more connected transport. 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.

The new trains have been developed and manufactured by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), with all signalling integration and onboard signalling control systems supplied by Hitachi Rail.