Local MP Natasha Irons has fired off a letter of complaint to Transport for London over what she calls the “inadequate” replacement bus service being provided for her New Addington constituents while they endure “significant disruption” caused by the latest closure of the tram network for engineering works.
Asking questions: MP Natasha Irons has taken up the poor transport service for her New Addington constituents with managers at Transport for London
Irons describes the bus replacement service provided since last week’s closure of the New Addington tram branch line as “limited” and “often unreliable”.
Inside Croydon reported on Monday how a road closure at Kent Gate Way and a ruptured water main on Upper Shirley Road had caused traffic gridlock between New Addington, Addington Village and Selsdon, and had undermined the tram replacement buses, which were unable to use their diversion route.
Yesterday, Labour MP Irons, whose Croydon East constituency includes New Addington, wrote to Mark Davis, London Trams’ general manager, “demanding answers and urgent improvements”.
Irons said: “Maintenance work is important, but New Addington residents need replacement transport that is reliable and accessible, as well as clear timetable communication.
“I’ve asked TfL to explain what immediate steps they will take to improve the replacement bus service, and how they will make sure residents can travel to and from their homes with confidence.”
In her letter to TfL, Irons writes, “I have received repeated reports of often infrequent shuttle services, overcrowding at peak times, poor timetable communication and a lack of clear information both at stops and online.
“For many, these issues have resulted in missed appointments, longer and more complicated journeys and considerable inconvenience.
“Given the scale of the disruption caused by the planned works, I would have expected a more robust and passenger focused replacement service to be provided. It is essential that TfL ensures adequate capacity, timely updates and clear route information so that passengers can travel with confidence throughout the closure period.”
Commons cause: Natasha Irons’ letter to TfL this week
Earlier this week, TfL explained to Inside Croydon that their planned bus replacement service had been badly affected by a ruptured water main on their diversion route on Upper Shirley Road, and prevented them for serving the tram stops at Gravel Hill and Lloyd Park.
Transport for London’s “essential engineering works” on the trams has seen the line from East Croydon to New Addington, Elmers End and Beckenham Junction closed since last Wednesday, and not due to be back in service for another week, until Wednesday February 25.
The burst water main on Upper Shirley Road was an unforeseeable complication to TfL’s plans. “We quickly amended some services to lessen the impact on the tram replacement buses, which included running a shuttle service between East Croydon and Gravel Hill which allows us to serve Coombe Lane and Lloyd Park,” a TfL spokesperson said on Monday.
“We are looking to organise some more buses to keep this in place until the issue on Upper Shirley Road is resolved,” they told Inside Croydon.
Read more: Kent Gate Way closure compounds New Addington tram misery
Read more: TfL report confirms decade delay over Croydon’s new trams
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