The new ‘River Tram’: the view from Adddiscombe tram stop just before 7am today, when services to Beckenham Junction were cancelled due to flooding
Croydon’s tram network was closed between Addiscombe and Beckenham Junction for several hours this morning, as flooding blocked the lines following severe and intense thunderstorms just after dawn.
The River Wandle was close to breaking its banks near Beddington, and the London Fire Brigade responded to around 400 call-outs in connection with the thunderstorms – due both to flooding or lightning strikes.
One house, at Wilde Place in Tooting, struck by lightning, caught fire.
Some areas, including roads, were hit by flash flooding.
The LFB says: “Drivers are asked not to drive through floodwater… A foot of moving water at just 6mph is enough to float a car. Always try to find an alternative route and make sure to check your journey before travelling.”
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: “It has been a very busy night for our Control Officers, firefighters and officers.
In full spate: the usually docile River Wandle was close to bursting its banks in Beddington after the deluge this morning
“Shortly after 4am, due to a large number of calls received by the Brigade, we implemented our High-Volume Call procedure which means flooding calls where there is a risk to life are prioritised and crews then attend other calls as non-emergencies when they can.”
Operation Willow Beck was also brought into effect.
Introduced in 2022 nationally by the Home Office and National Chiefs Fire Council, this is a pre-determined 999 call distribution procedure, which during times of extreme demand, can divert surplus emergency calls to unaffected fire and rescue service control rooms.
“I’d like to thank all of those colleagues in other fire rescue services who assisted us overnight, as well as our own staff for their hard work and professionalism during this busy period,” Goulbourne said.
“While the worst of the rain now seems to have passed, we continue to work through outstanding calls as well as receive new incidents as Londoners wake to see some of the damage caused by the storms overnight.
“We’d like to reassure Londoners that crews are available to respond to emergencies, so please call 999 if you have to.”
Severe delays: even by 10.30am, tram drivers were having to take precautions on the eastern-most section of the network
Fire rescue units are equipped with water rescue equipment such as inflatable rescue boats and the Brigade has specialist flood response kits, each containing rigid flood rescue boats and paddles and rigid floating pontoons, and flood barriers. They also contain protective dry suits and boots to be worn by fire crews when rescuing people from flooded areas.
By 10.30am, services on the tram network were operating again, although according to Transport for London there were “severe delays” between Sandilands, Beckenham Junction and Elmers End.
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The thunderstorms and heavy rain were just BEFORE dawn in East Croydon. I saw at least 50 flashes of lightning between 4am and 4.45 (and dawn today was at 4.44am). there was heavy rain for most of that time but virtually no thunder, with just a few rumbles of that at the end. I only went out at 9.30 after the sun had dried the roads out again and was home before 10am.
At least the trams have their power supply in overhead cables, so they are less bother by flooding, as long as the tram platforms and their approaches remain above water. The problem for overhead power lines comes during high winds which may blow them over or trees onto the power lines. It is the other way round for the third rail power supply trains in SE England; they are unaffected by high winds, but flood water causing short circuiting !
This just illustrates that we need to both make our contribution to reducing global CO2 emissions and improve the resilience of our infrastructure. That should be the government’s priority, not increased spending on arms and the military that will only result in dragging us into war.
Park Hill Infants reception classes closed for a week as one of the classrooms got flooded. Hard to believe it takes croydon council over a week to mend 2 class rooms, early year children’s education you would think would be a priority. They give no clear information why it takes so long.