There is to be another “significant closure” of a large part of the tram network for “vital” works which will see all services east of East Croydon Station suspended for almost four weeks. A senior figure at Transport for London has stressed that “these works must take place at the earliest opportunity”.
Off track: the latest two-week network closure is about to be followed by one lasting a month
From Friday, March 29 (Good Friday) to April 24, no trams will run from East Croydon to New Addington, Elmers End and Beckenham Junction.
This latest closure for “essential” engineering works follows close on the latest, two-week closure of the central Croydon tram loop, which has been closed for 10 days and where works are expected to continue all this week.
The next set of maintenance works on the track “will take place at two key locations, East Croydon and Sandilands Junction”, according to a TfL spokesperson.
“The work includes upgrading the ‘switches and crossing’ units, which control how trams manoeuvre on the tracks, and renewing existing track. Work on the tracks will take place at the same time, as doing it separately would result in the tram service being closed for longer.”
TfL consoles themselves that “this closure will largely take place during the Easter school holidays when customer numbers are lower”, although the schools are closed for only two weeks, not the full, month-long extent of what is thought to be the most extensive closure since the Croydon tram network began operating in 2000.
Engineering teams will be “working around the clock during the closure to minimise disruption as much as possible”, TfL says..
TfL will be helping customers by providing Tram replacement bus services and an increased frequency of local buses in the areas affected.
Navid Golshan, TfL’s General Manager for London Trams, said: “This planned maintenance is vital to ensure we can continue to offer customers a reliable service across the London Trams network. The works being undertaken are essential and must take place at the earliest opportunity. I would like to thank customers for their patience while this takes place and would ask customers to plan ahead, allowing plenty of time for journeys.”
Information regarding the closures and travel advice will be displayed at local tram stops, with trams staff available at some of the affected tram stops during the closures, including Addiscombe, Lloyd Park, Coombe Lane and Woodside.
Customers are advised to plan ahead and to use real-time travel tools including TfL’s Journey Planner and the TfL Go smartphone app.
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You would have thought that such a major maintenance scheme would have been provided with more notice than just over a month. Sounds like TFL had a capital underspend for the financial year and had to find a convenient project that could be activated at short notice to enable no loss of capital. After the current closure of the network through Croydon for two weeks it shows TFL do seem to take the Croydon Tram User a bit for granted. For over ten percent of this year the Tram will not available for many who rely on it.
According to TfL’s planned tracked closures, there will also be no service between Sandilands and New Addington at weekends during March as well.
I can quite imagine that the tracks at Sandilands are worn out. The wheels always squeak and squeal as they take the sharp bend.
I suspect that the higher safety standards in place have moved repair works prioritisation up to immediate and urgent.
Unfortunately without a subsidy like other train companies, planned projects are suspended when “emergency” or safety critical works are required.
I wonder what planned project has been suspended to enable this work to be done ad how much more of the Tram Network will be subjected to essential works after those in March.?
Should we ask TfL politely to commincate the schedules of works planned for the next two years – obviosly with the caveat of funds permitting.?
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