Docklands Light Railway Rolling Stock - B07 Rolling Stock

B07 Rolling Stock

In May 2005, Bombardier announced that they would be providing a further 24 vehicles of a new design, which they consider superior to the B90/B92/B2K. The new cars, needed for network extensions and three-car service on the Bank–Lewisham route, were to be delivered between May 2007 and September 2008, but were delayed. These vehicles are known as 'B07 stock', and are numbered 101 to 124. The first new DLR train was delivered on 22 December 2007, and three units of B07 stock, 104, 105, and 106, were on display at West India Quay on 13 March 2008. The first train of B07 stock, made up of units 105 and 106, went into service in September 2008. Even by March 2009 few of the new trains had appeared in service, but all units of this batch had entered service by July 2009.

In June 2006, another 31 vehicles were added to this order. This batch was partly funded by the Olympic Delivery Authority and was planned to be delivered by 2009. If previous naming conventions are applied, then it is expected these additional vehicles will be known as the second batch of B07 stock, or the Olympic batch, and will be numbered 125 to 155. All units of this batch have been delivered, with the first six units having been delivered by June 2009. All units entered service by the end of June 2010.

The B07 stock units feature a totally redesigned exterior and interior. It features larger windows and doors and more leg room. In addition, several technical improvements were made for better acceleration, altered door functions to enable faster boarding and alighting, and improved braking for a smoother ride.

The B07 units were the first to operate as 3-car trains in early 2010; the B92 trains followed operating in this way later in 2010. The initial 3-car route was the mainstream Bank to Lewisham route, but the lengthened trains were subsequently operated on other routes as well.