The Docklands Light Railway is a growing light rail network in the East of London which has supported the redevelopment of the former docklands area. Unlike other lines which have been built in response to demand, the DLR was built to attract people to a previously run down area [1]. The B90/B92/B2K fleet is the a second generation of trains on the DLR, which supplemented and then replaced the original
P86/89 Stock.
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| 77 at West India Quay |
All DLR trains are automatically controlled though carry a Passenger Service Agent (PSA) who can control the train if necessary via a locked console. The trains do not have cabs and so are popular with passengers who can get a great front view of travel! The PSA can control a train in emergencies via controls locked away at the front of the train. The DLR trains consist of a single articulated car [2] though can operate in multiples of up to three. The DLR operates off 750v DC third rail like many railways in London, though in the DLR's case power is picked up from the underside of the conductor rail, the top and sides having plastic covers.
| Information |
| Number built: |
94 (23 B90, 47 B92, 24 B2K) |
| Built: |
1991-2002 |
| Builder: |
Bombardier |
| Engine: |
Brush TM2111A traction motors (750v DC third rail bottom contact) |
| Power: |
375 hp (280 kW) |
The B2K cars differ from the two earlier batches in that they have been modified to adhere to accessibility regulations and have contrasting colour doors and handrails and internal LCD screens. The earlier cars have being bought up to the same standard during refurbishment. However, the fleets are worked hard and the B90 and B92 are showing signs of being worn out, they are due to replaced by new build vehicles in the early 2020s [3][4].
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| 53 at Shadwell |
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| 30 at West India Quay |
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| The ever popular front seats |
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| 48 at Tower Gateway |
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| 36 at Canning Town |
[1] Oliver Green, The London Underground (Ian Allan, 1987) p. 67
[2] Colin J Marsden, Rail Guide 2013 (Ian Allan, 2012) p. 256
[3] Roger Ford, "Rolling stock factories over-capacity threat", Modern Railways (December 2017) p. 25
[4] DLR Rolling Stock Replacement Programme, Transport for London <http://content.tfl.gov.uk/08-dlr-rolling-stock.pdf>
