DLR B23 Stock (CAF Inneo)

[Snow1964]

Where are the new trains? They don't appear to be in the UK. And has production now been completed? If so it's always an issue getting commissioning issues attended to if the production line team has been dispersed. If nothing else, there's the risk of them running out of warranty before they are first used.

Only about 3 or 4 have been delivered

5 weeks ago TfL Board papers said 40 trains were built, most are being stored by CAF in Spain at TfLs request. So maybe 42-43 now built.

The additional sidings at Becton had been delayed because the building contractor went bust, although another company had since been appointed to finish them. I am guessing once these sidings are commissioned then the trains will resume being delivered. From memory they come in sections on long road trailers on the ferry from Spain (to Portsmouth or Plymouth ?). So will probably take weeks round trip for the special transport vehicles to collect one and deliver to London.

 

[Taunton]

The additional sidings at Becton had been delayed because the building contractor went bust, although another company had since been appointed to finish them. I

Contractor Buckingham went under two years ago. Another mainstream contractor, Balfour Beatty, then got the work, to finish them, and did so last year. It's only open air sidings, for goodness sake. The main depot buildings etc expansion, needed to lift a whole new full-length train all at once, has always been with another contractor, Morgan Sindall. Buckingham had just got the easy bit outside.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Contractor Buckingham went under two years ago. Another mainstream contractor, Balfour Beatty, then got the work, to finish them, and did so last year. It's only open air sidings, for goodness sake. The main depot buildings etc expansion, needed to lift a whole new full-length train all at once, has always been with another contractor, Morgan Sindall. Buckingham had just got the easy bit outside.

So do we know how the main depot building is going then? Must have been delays to that too.

 

[Kay_M]

I genuinely hope this isn't going to be like the 358 bus route saga all over again.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I genuinely hope this isn't going to be like the 358 bus route saga all over again.

Or the class 701 saga

 

[Geogregor]

Or the class 701 saga

I was about to write the same. Nothing seems to be going right in recent years regarding fleet introductions.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I was about to write the same. Nothing seems to be going right in recent years regarding fleet introductions.

Indeed - if Nigel Gresley had had the same problems the "Silver Jubilee" wouldn't have been in service until George V - in whose honour it was named - had been dead for five years (and probably not at all, given contemporary world events, and the fact that Gresley himself had died by then)

 

[Kay_M]

Or the class 701 saga

With that now I still don't understand what the hold up with that fleet is?