The Dockland's Light Railway is known for its driverless trains but this year the experience will be heightened. You can continue to sit at the front of the vehicle but to add to the atmosphere there will be fake steering wheels installed so it feels as if you are in control.
Aimed at children, these cardboard steering wheels are part of an effort to bring the line to life. Tens of thousands of people have sat at the front of the trains pretending to be driver, and Sadiq Khan has announced a trial that could now include a steering wheel and stickers mimicking control panels to create a more realistic driving experience.
This trial scheme will see control stickers and wheels added to the front of ten DLR trains this month, with the potential of being rolled out further in the future. DLR trains are fully automated hence the lack of driver but members of staff are able to take over control on board.
The gimmick was suggested by the Liberal Democrat assembly member Caroline Pidgeon just after Christmas. In response to Pidgeon, Khan said: “TfL will be trialling ‘driving the train’ vinyl stickers across 10 trains in January 2024, and is exploring a number of other customer and community engagement activities to support the introduction of new DLR trains.
“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.” This initiative comes after many passengers share photos and videos of them pretending to drive the train on social media.
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