A significant portion of London's tram network will shut for nearly two weeks starting October 24, as Transport for London (TfL) carries out another round of essential maintenance. From Saturday, October 24 until Thursday, November 5, no services will run east of East Croydon, affecting routes to New Addington and Beckenham Junction.
13-day closure and replacement bus services
During the 13-day period, replacement buses will operate between East Croydon and Beckenham Junction, and between East Croydon and New Addington. The closure will cover the October school half-term, a period when demand is typically lower, according to TfL. This is the latest in a series of disruptions to tram services around Croydon throughout the year.
In August, the route between East Croydon and Reeves Corner was closed for 25 days for major track renewal, and on some days there was also a reduced service towards Elmers End. The upcoming works will see one kilometre of track replaced between Arena and Elmers End, along with improvements at the Sandilands tunnel. Another upgrade will focus on renewing the Kent Gate Way road crossing east of Gravel Hill.
TfL's plans and customer advice
Mark Davis, TfL's general manager for the tram service, said: "We're carrying out most of these works during the October half-term period when demand is lower to minimise disruption as much as possible." He added: "The programme includes renewing track, ballast and other key infrastructure across the network, helping to keep the tramway safe, reliable and fit for the future."
Davis acknowledged the impact on passengers: "We know these works will affect some journeys, and we'd like to thank customers for their patience. Replacement buses will be in place, and we encourage customers to plan ahead using the TfL Go app or our online journey planner before travelling."
Alternative routes and service adjustments
Replacement buses will serve all stops except Lebanon Road and Sandilands, while services will not call at Elmers End on both Sundays during the closure. Trams will continue to operate to Wimbledon as normal throughout the period. In addition to the replacement buses, six local routes – 119, 198, 289, 312, 314 and 367 – will also be available for passengers.
There will be no service between Sandilands and New Addington on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, ahead of the longer-term closure. Passengers are advised to check the TfL Go app or online journey planner before travelling to plan their journeys during the maintenance period.
