Croydon’s tram network appears to be on the brink of complete operational collapse.
In crisis: there has been no tram service on some or all of the network for eight weeks so far in 2024
At less than half-an-hour’s notice last night, Transport for London issued an announcement that the entire network was to shutdown at 7pm “to enable repair works to happen as quickly as possible”. Today, there are no trams operating from East Croydon to Beckenham Junction or New Addington. Again.
Inside Croydon reported yesterday that just eight trams from the fleet of 34 were still able to operate.
So far in 2024, there has been no service on part or all of the tram network for seven weeks, the closures often for planned “essential track maintenance”. The latest service shutdown will make that eight weeks, in the 19th week of the year.
This latest withdrawal of service has been done hastily, and has a whiff of crisis about it.
Industry sources also suggest that they are increasingly suspicious of the excuses given for the trams being taken out of service because of “damage to wheels caused by debris on the line”. There were similar service withdrawals in 2023. But then, only half as many trams were affected by the damaged wheels.
As well as shutting the network down last night, TfL has also decided that today and on Saturday and Sunday, tram services will only run between 7am and 7pm.
Today, trams are only running between Wimbledon and East Croydon, once again cutting off the services to Addiscombe, Woodside, Lloyd Park, Beckenham Junction, Elmers End and New Addington.
“From Monday May 13, we expect to run services between Wimbledon and Beckenham Junction,” TfL said last night. “We apologise for the continued disruption this is causing.”
No service: Beckenham and New Addington are cut off from the tram network. Again
What TfL calls “enhanced bus services” are operating on routes 54, 64, 130, 289 and 466 “to help customers wanting to travel”. Which is nice.
The tram fleet has 22 of the original Bombardier stock which have been trundling along the 17-mile network since it opened in 2000, plus 12 Variobahn trams which were purchased between 2012 and 2015.
TfL has started a tendering process to find replacements for the Bombardier trams, but because of covid and the transport agency’s financial crisis, it is at least a year or two behind schedule in conducting this multi-million-pound purchase.
In a statement issued to Inside Croydon, a Transport for London spokesperson said: “A number of our trams have unfortunately suffered damaged wheels due to debris in a section of track which means we are currently operating a significantly reduced service across the network.
“This impact is likely to affect services into the weekend and beyond while we repair the wheels but our priority is to put trams safely back into service as quickly as possible.
“We are sorry for the disruption this is causing to customers and are boosting local bus services so that everyone can still get around.”
TfL’s advice is for anyone wanting to travel in the area to check before they travel, consider alternative routes and to allow more time to complete their journeys.
From May 2024: Two-thirds of tram fleet out of service due to wheel damage
From June 2023: 20% of Croydon’s tram fleet suffered damage to their wheels
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