DLR B23 Stock (CAF Inneo)

[Silent]

Grabbed a ride on it this evening on the booked diagram. The front seats surprised me for being a full height back, and the ride was no worse than the predecessors. Overall, it felt like a decent new train to update DLR.

I dont ride dlr much but I would assume less hunting would make the ride feel better

 

[Railperf]

The new trains seem to be running at a maximum speed of 70kph where the older ones don't seem to exceed 60kph omg that route.

 

[torontoaddick]

The DLR is split into 4 VCC (Vehicle Control Computer) areas, the B23s are currently cleared to run in VCCs 3&4 which is STI/BEC to WOA.

There are five VCC areas. VCC5 covers South Quay to Lewisham.

 

[tfw756rider]

The new trains seem to be running at a maximum speed of 70kph where the older ones don't seem to exceed 60kph omg that route.

(43mph and 37mph respectively)

 

[DGP]

(43mph and 37mph respectively)

OK, this confuses my simple mind. The new train is running to the same timetable as the old trains and has to be 10 minutes behind the one in front and 10 minutes in front of the one behind, so how can it do that if it travels at a higher speed?

 

[TheManWho]

The new trains seem to be running at a maximum speed of 70kph where the older ones don't seem to exceed 60kph omg that route.

There are places on the route where the older stock will run up to 70kph as well

 

[ijmad]

OK, this confuses my simple mind. The new train is running to the same timetable as the old trains and has to be 10 minutes behind the one in front and 10 minutes in front of the one behind, so how can it do that if it travels at a higher speed?

SelTrac will compensate by extending dwell times at stations to space out the service to timetable.

Eventually when certain routes are entirely switched over to the B23, there could be an overall timetable uplift.

 

[Railperf]

OK, this confuses my simple mind. The new train is running to the same timetable as the old trains and has to be 10 minutes behind the one in front and 10 minutes in front of the one behind, so how can it do that if it travels at a higher speed?

In general, the distances between stations are fairly short, so time gains from a few mph faster may only be a few seconds quicker.

 

[35B]

In general, the distances between stations are fairly short, so time gains from a few mph faster may only be a few seconds quicker.

At which point, the additional speed may instead be used for greater service resilience

 

[Railperf]

At which point, the additional speed may instead be used for greater service resilience

Wasn't there a time that up to 50mph (80 kph) was the fastest service speed?

 

[Taunton]

Wasn't there a time that up to 50mph (80 kph) was the fastest service speed?

The only real high speed sections were between All Saints and Devons Road, which was effectively lost when Langdon Park station was built halfway, and the same alongside the GEML, again lost when Pudding Mill station and a passing loop were inserted there.

 

[Railperf]

The only real high speed sections were between All Saints and Devons Road, which was effectively lost when Langdon Park station was built halfway, and the same alongside the GEML, again lost when Pudding Mill station and a passing loop were inserted there.

I wouldn't call 50mph 'high-speed' but yes i do remember how the early trains would outstrip the Class 315's leaving Stratford in the early days. And yes, with no stop at Pudding Mill, the first stop at Bow Church was quite quickly reached.
The acceleration seemed rapid at the time. But the biggest factor now seems to be the braking rate, which seems to be gentler than before and demands greater time and distance to brake from a given speed than to accelerate to it.

 

[Warrior2852]

I wouldn't call 50mph 'high-speed'

It is in the relative sense of that is quite quick for a light rail system.

 

[torontoaddick]

Wasn't there a time that up to 50mph (80 kph) was the fastest service speed?

80 km/h is still the fastest service speed allowed by the signalling / ATO system - and the speeds in the signalling / ATO system for any section of track are the same for both the older and B23 trains

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I saw 238 out testing at Canning Town low level around lunchtime today.

209 remains the only one actually in traffic.

 

[JCO1406]

I saw 238 out testing at Canning Town low level around lunchtime today.

209 remains the only one actually in traffic.

Lately I’ve only seen 201 and 238 on testing/mileage accumulation runs. I thought they wanted to have 4 in service by the end of the month, not looking too good at the moment.

I wonder how long it will be till Beckton line gets it’s Stratford service back.

 

[Railperf]

80 km/h is still the fastest service speed allowed by the signalling / ATO system - and the speeds in the signalling / ATO system for any section of track are the same for both the older and B23

What sections realistically allow a full 80kph? I am assuming that would likely only be achieved when running late. I know SelTrac on the District line will set slower maximum speeds when the train is running to time, and will uplift the maximum in places to aid service recovery.
The braking curve does seem almost too slow, are these units too light footed or is it simply to make best use of the regenerative capability?

 

[Wolfie]

What sections realistically allow a full 80kph? I am assuming that would likely only be achieved when running late. I know SelTrac on the District line will set slower maximum speeds when the train is running to time, and will uplift the maximum in places to aid service recovery.
The braking curve does seem almost too slow, are these units too light footed or is it simply to make best use of the regenerative capability?

I had wondered if that was either due to the stock still being in the introduction stage or the much higher proportion of standing passengers planned (or indeed both).

 

[Thirteen]

So there is a second B23 out today which was carrying passengers but marked as special so perhaps this is the second one to revenue service.

I rode 209 and have to I’m impressed. It does seem more akin to the 345 and 710 in terms of
design language but it’s bright and clean.

I think there is a few gremlins as the digital displays are not showing info aside from saying Transport for London and the announcements are being done manually by a PSA so I wonder if a software update is coming?

 

[JCO1406]

So there is a second B23 out today which was carrying passengers but marked as special so perhaps this is the second one to revenue service.

I rode 209 and have to I’m impressed. It does seem more akin to the 345 and 710 in terms of
design language but it’s bright and clean.

I think there is a few gremlins as the digital displays are not showing info aside from saying Transport for London and the announcements are being done manually by a PSA so I wonder if a software update is coming?

Did you see what unit this was? Perhaps 238? I was very lucky to ride on 209 twice today. Turned up as i was waiting for a train to my destinations

 

[Thirteen]

Did you see what unit this was? Perhaps 238? I was very lucky to ride on 209 twice today. Turned up as i was waiting for a train to my destinations

Annoyingly, I didn't manage to catch the number of the other unit.

 

[bluegoblin7]

211 was in service yesterday.

 

[JCO1406]

How many units out and about today?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Oct 2025 ==

Been a week without no updates. Is it still at 2 units in service?

Any ideas on when the other lines will be cleared for B23 operations?

 

[Warrior2852]

Any units out today?

 

[OneTrackMinded]

How many units out and about today?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Oct 2025 ==

Been a week without no updates. Is it still at 2 units in service?

Any ideas on when the other lines will be cleared for B23 operations?

Any units out today?

I think it’s pretty obvious now that nobody seems to know or can be bothered to reply. This thread just seems like a cemetery now.

 

[Mattplans]

Are they even being tested

 

[Smod]

Unit 224 was in service yesterday. That makes 3 that I have seen - 209, 211, 224. However I haven't sensed that all are in service at the same time - maybe they are taking it in turns to operate. Others may know better than me.

 

[Taunton]

One was dumped in the siding at the back of Royal Victoria, on the Beckton line, on Tuesday 28 Oct.

For some reason the Beckton line is closed tomorrow, Friday 31 Oct. It's been a while since there have been weekday closures. The PA today was listing the regular buses running in the area, so no RRBs either it seems.

 

[JCO1406]

Are they even being tested

I did see a unit on the beckton line today. Didn’t catch what number it was though.

Unit 224 was in service yesterday. That makes 3 that I have seen - 209, 211, 224. However I haven't sensed that all are in service at the same time - maybe they are taking it in turns to operate. Others may know better than me.

I did see 224 at Stratford earlier today. Pretty sure I saw another unit aswell, might’ve been 209

 

[Via Bank]

There is at least one, possibly two, out in service on the International branch on a regular basis now. There was at least one on crew training today as well.