25.06.12
Croydon trams see 50% service upgrade
An upgrade of Croydon tram services will mean passengers can benefit from 12 trams per hour, TfL has announced. The extra four trams per hour will relieve crowding during peak times and provide new direct journey opportunities between Elmers End and stations from Sandilands to the Wandle Park/Waddon Marsh area.
The new services follow the introduction of six new trams to the service in February, which offer air conditioning, more space and better accessibility to passengers.
The £16.3m investment into the trams, funded in part by Croydon Council, is part of a wider package of regeneration to the area, following last summers’ riots.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “These superb new tram services are essential to Croydon’s long term prosperity, which in turn feeds into the capital’s economic success. Fast and efficient transport links not only make Croydon a more convenient place to live and work, but also attract businesses that will deliver much-needed jobs and economic growth putting Croydon firmly on track for the future.”
Croydon Council leader, Mike Fisher, said: “These fantastic new trams are a major boost for a transport network that is the envy of London and the rest of the country and they will provide an even better service for people who live and work here.
“We have invested £3m into this project to help boost local infrastructure – and it’s further evidence of our commitment to the regeneration of our borough. This year promises to be the beginning of an exciting period of delivery that will transform the way our town looks and operates – and that will service Croydon well for generations to come.”
Reliability improvements to theWimbledonbranch are also expected by the end of the year. The creation of a second track between Mitcham and Mitcham Junction will remove a bottleneck in the present system and facilitate future work to increase frequency on the line toWimbledon.
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Image courtesy: Peter Trimming