Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Transport for London will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Croydon’s tram network with special events celebrating its impact on public transport.
As reported by Inside Croydon, large portions of the Croydon Trams network were closed early on Saturday night for “essential” engineering work (it is always “essential”), which was a regrettable metaphor for decades of inadequate investment in the system.
The 25th anniversary of the tram network will soon be celebrated by Transport for London.
Since 2000, the trams have become an essential part of the public transport system in Croydon and south London; as a result, they require regular maintenance, including on weekends.
The trams were the product of some very innovative and uncommon local government work. In the 1990s, Mary Walker, the council leader for Labour, and Peter Bowness, the Tory who replaced her, worked across party lines to achieve important legislation.
In addition, Transport for London is commemorating 25 years of London’s 21st Century trams and “the network’s support of the growth and development of south London” with an anniversary poster campaign, after the weekend’s reminder of the network’s and rolling stock’s age.
Before contemporary trams were introduced in 2000 to revitalize and reunite neighborhoods from Wimbledon to Beckenham, to Mitcham and New Addington, reestablishing essential transport linkages and easing traffic, London’s trams had been swept away in a dash for modernity (or buses) in 1952.
Since 2007, TfL has been in charge of the services, and today the network serves over 17 million users annually.
“The entire fleet is already fully electric, reducing emissions and supporting a cleaner, greener London, and step-free access is available throughout the network,”
TfL says.
“Looking ahead to the next 25 years, planned improvements for London Trams include new vehicles, subject to funding, with multi-use areas, mobile charging points and real-time travel information.
The trams will also feature the latest safety technologies, as part of TfL’s Vision Zero strategy.”
As part of a series of 25th anniversary posters for TfL, which highlight the revolutionary advancements and innovations that have improved customers’ lives over the past 25 years, an eye-catching poster commemorating London Trams will debut later this month to honor the event.
TfL’s Trish Ashton said,
“The London Trams network has really transformed travel in south London, linking areas together and helping people make the most of this part of the capital.
In the coming years we’re looking forward to building on our work to make journeys even more comfortable and easy to navigate.”
How does the Croydon Tram network contribute to the local economy?
The majority of Croydon businesses have a positive opinion of Tramlink, saying it boosts their visibility, attracts more clients, and encourages commerce.
By promoting Croydon as a town with ambition and energy, the tram network has given the area newfound confidence and drawn in high-profile office-based firms who consider accessibility to be a crucial consideration when choosing a location.
Particularly after the tram network opened, real estate values in Croydon’s tram-served neighborhoods have increased by roughly 4% more than those in non-tram areas. This implies that Tramlink has helped to increase the appeal of these neighborhoods to locals and investors, particularly young professionals.
Tramlink made it possible to upgrade shop establishments and kept foot traffic in Croydon town centre during significant retail renovations.