Cardboard steering wheels will allow children to pretend to 'drive' DLR trains

It’s arguably the best seat in London: at the front of a DLR train, pretending to be the driver.

And it’s not just kids that like to sit there – even Mayor Sadiq Khan has spoken of his keenness to “bagsie” a front seat, though he often finds the seats occupied when he boards at Canning Town on his way to City Hall.

Now Transport for London is looking to capitalise on the fun aspect of the driverless DLR trains by trialling “driving the train” stickers – and potentially fitting cardboard steering wheels beside the front seats.

Kids' play: cardboard steering wheels are set to be added beside the front seats (TfL)

Asked by Lib-Dem London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon if he would back a fun promotional campaign to encourage passengers to use the DLR as new trains arrive, Mr Khan revealed that 10 trains would trial the stickers this month.

He said TfL was also “exploring a number of other customer and community engagement activities to support the introduction of new DLR trains”.

Mr Khan said: As part of this, TfL will consider how it brings to life the ‘driving the DLR’ experience for children. This could involve cardboard steering wheels.

“TfL will review learnings from the front seat ‘driving the train’ vinyl sticker trial in early 2024 before finalising plans.”

The new trains will have air conditioning, walk-through carriages, USB charging points and a new teal colour scheme.

Like the existing DLR trains, they will not have a driver at the front – but a “train captain” will be on board and can switch the automatic controls to manual.

The four seats at the front of existing trains will be replaced with two bench-style “double seats” facing forwards.

Public service announcement from ⁦@SadiqKhan⁩: on the new DLR trains, passengers can still sit in the front seat and pretend to be the driver 🚊 pic.twitter.com/X7HK5bCT7s

— Ross Lydall (@RossLydall) February 8, 2023

The new DLR trains will replace about two-thirds of the existing red and blue fleet, increasing the total number of trains from 42 to 54 – meaning more frequent services and greater comfort and capacity.

Almost 100m journeys a year are made on the DLR, which opened in 1987.

Viewing the first of the new fleet of DLR trains to undergo testing in London last year, Mr Khan said: “We have made sure we have got a front seat on the new DLR trains as well, because I know what a prize that is.”