Why does DLR shake so much?

One user replied with a simple explanation for the wobbling: “The DLR is wobbly because of the type of wheels that are used. The wheels are angled against the tracks and don't meet at the tracks at a right angle.”



The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in London is famously "wobbly" due to a combination of its track geometry and its wheel design. Unlike heavy rail trains, the DLR uses a coned wheel profile similar to a tram, which is designed to help the trains navigate the incredibly tight, twisting turns required to thread through the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and repurposed industrial viaducts. When these "tram-style" wheels travel on the long, straight sections of the track, they often experience "hunting oscillation," where the wheelset shifts back and forth to find the center of the rail, creating a noticeable side-to-side shaking sensation. Additionally, much of the DLR's elevated concrete guideway acts as a sounding board, amplifying vibrations. In 2026, the introduction of the new B23 train fleet has aimed to mitigate this with improved suspension systems and air-conditioning to mask the noise, but the fundamental "wobble" remains a byproduct of a system designed more for agile urban maneuvering than for high-speed, perfectly smooth mainline travel.

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The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a driverless train network that serves parts of east and south-east London.

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