Croydon Tramlink Light Rail System, United Kingdom

Croydon, 15 miles south of the UK capital, London, has one of the most successful new era light rail systems in Britain, with passenger numbers rising, and good integration with road, heavy rail and bus modes.

The decision to build a system reflects the town’s growth in the last half of the 20th century. With a population of more than 320,000, it is the most populous London Borough, and one of the biggest population centres in the UK.

Opened in May 2000, like other light rail systems in the UK, passenger numbers have been lower than expected, though 16–18 million per year is significantly higher than other systems. Property values along its route have soared above those elsewhere in Croydon, suggesting expected regeneration benefits are taking place.

Whilst the first six years of operation have not seen any new major projects get the go-ahead, October 2006 saw a £20m investment programme to improve transport and road safety in Croydon London Borough approved by the Major of London Ken Livingstone, which includes the planned extension of Tramlink to Crystal Palace.

THE PROJECT

The idea to bring trams back to London for the first time in 50 years emerged from discussions between London Transport and the former British Rail in the 1980s. Improvements to the existing rail network were originally suggested, and the main target identified as improvements to east-west links through the area. Formal approval came in July 1994 when the British parliament passed the Tramlink Act.

The winner of the eight firms which bid for the concession to design, build, finance and operate the system was Tramtrack Croydon Limited (TCL), comprising Bombardier Transportation, CentreWest Limited, Sir Robert McAlpine Limited, Amey Construction and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

TCL contributed £75m to the project's £200m cost, with the rest coming from central government in recognition of its value to London as a whole.

Today the Croydon Tramlink is an 18 mile network of three lines with 39 stations, the last of which was opened in December 2005 – Centrale Stop, in Tamworth Road. Several extensions are in the planning stages.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The new system is 28km (18 miles) long, connecting central Croydon with other local areas Beckenham, Elmers End, New Addington and Wimbledon. Three routes are operated: Croydon-New Addington, Croydon-Beckenham Junction and Wimbledon-Elmers End. 18km of Tramlink is on existing railway trackbed.

The system's maintenance depot is situated at Therapia Lane, on the north-west outskirts of Croydon.

While several proposals exist for introducing a wider network of trams to central and west London, plans for the tram network to include a link to Crystal Palace are now moving forward. This 4.8km (3 mile) line from the terminus of route 2 at Beckenham Junction Crystal Palace is now a key feature of the Mayor of London’s £20m investment programme for the Croydon borough.

Public consultation took place at the end of 2006 over three possible route options for the new line, although no dates have been set for work to start. The Crystal Palace line would provide an interchange with the East London Line, which is being rebuilt as part of the London Overground heavy rail suburban network to open in 2010.

ROLLING STOCK

Bombardier built the 24 trams for the system, at a cost of £35m, including maintenance. The design is based on the K4000 series vehicles which have proved successful in Köln (Cologne), Germany.

Each tram consists of two long car bodies joined by a short intermediate section with a trailer bogie. Bogies at either end of the tram are motorised and above here are the only sections of the vehicles which do not have low floors. Each unit can carry 209 passengers, 74 seated and 135 standing. Top speed is 80kmh (50mph).

Two areas on each unit are designated for use by disabled passengers, or passengers with prams or bicycles. Each unit can carry 209 passengers, 74 seated and 135 standing. Top speed is 80kmh (50mph).

Propulsion and control equipment includes automatic anti-slip devices, load detection, brake force control and an electronic diagnostic system. The trams have proved highly reliable and popular with passengers, with few of the problems experienced by the Midland Metro system. Concerns about vandalism and passenger security have led to CCTV being fitted.

The reorganisation of services to meet demand – and the need for maintenance – has left Tramlink without enough vehicles to run the service, but efforts to procure at least one additional tram have been stifled by the lack of any other UK order to link into. The problem was identified in mid-2005, but no solution has been identified as yet.

SIGNALLING / COMMUNICATIONS

Each tram stop is equipped with a shelter with integrated passenger information and help points connected to the control room at Therapia Lane. Closed circuit television cameras at each station are also monitored here, and LCD displays show information on the next tram due.

The signalling system is a development of the multiple aspect system used for many years on the main rail network, except in the street running sections, where LCD route indicators show when a tram has permission to proceed. There have been few problems caused by conflict with road traffic – and few accidents caused by car drivers being unaware of the trams.

The latest communication development is the installation of LED display destination indicators and a pre-recorded voice announcing the next stop. A GPS system locates the tram and co-ordinates the announcements as each vehicle approaches the next stop.

THE FUTURE

London’s Transport Authority, Transport for London, is studying a wave of new light rail systems, as well as extensions to Croydon.

The Crystal Palace extension is making progress, and is now at the public consultation stage, whilst proposals for a Cross River Tram and West London Tramlink are also being investigated by Transport for London.

Several other schemes have also been discussed since Tramlink opened in 2000. Possible extensions include: Sutton Town Centre-Wimbledon, Sutton-Tooting, Croydon-Purley-Coulsdon and Croydon-Streatham.

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