Croydon tram passengers are being warned to prepare for nearly two weeks of disruption as major engineering works begin during the October half-term. Services from East Croydon to Beckenham Junction, Elmers End, and New Addington will be affected by closures lasting 13 days, from Saturday, October 24, to Thursday, November 5.
Transport for London (TfL) is carrying out essential maintenance and infrastructure improvements, with replacement buses operating along affected routes. The disruption will affect three sections of the London Trams network: East Croydon to Beckenham Junction, East Croydon to Elmers End, and East Croydon to New Addington. No trams will operate on these sections during the closure period.
Western Section Remains Operational
Services between Wimbledon and East Croydon will continue to operate, meaning passengers on the western section of the network can still use trams. Normal services are expected to resume on Friday, November 6, subject to completion of the planned works.
TfL has arranged two replacement bus routes to help passengers complete their journeys. The T2 replacement bus will operate between Wellesley Road and Beckenham Junction, serving East Croydon, Addiscombe, Blackhorse Lane, Arena, Elmers End, Birkbeck, and Beckenham Road. The T3 replacement bus will run between Wellesley Road and New Addington, serving East Croydon, Lloyd Park, Coombe Lane, Gravel Hill, Addington Village Interchange, Fieldway, and King Henry's Drive.
Engineering Works and Road Closures
The closures will allow engineers to carry out several major improvements. Work includes replacing approximately one kilometre of track between Arena and Elmers End, improvements to the Sandilands tunnel, and upgrades to the tram crossing at Kent Gate Way, near Addington Village. The Kent Gate Way works will also involve road closures and diversions, potentially affecting motorists in the surrounding area.
Some engineering work is expected to take place around the clock to complete the improvements within the planned closure period. The work has been scheduled to coincide with the October school half-term when passenger demand is generally lower.
Passenger Advice and Alternative Routes
Passengers should be aware that the T3 service will not serve Gravel Hill in the direction of New Addington between October 24 and November 1. Replacement buses may take longer than the usual tram journey, so passengers are encouraged to allow additional travelling time.
Passengers travelling through Croydon, Beckenham, Elmers End, and New Addington are advised to check their journeys before setting off. TfL's journey planner and TfL Go app provide information about planned closures, alternative routes, and replacement transport. Passengers can check the latest information on the TfL website. The planned disruption begins on Saturday, October 24, and is scheduled to finish on Thursday, November 5, with tram services expected to return to normal the following day.
