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Station Approach, CROYDON, CR0 1LF

This tram is approaching East Croydon station

As snow starts to fall again, Tramlink provides a near normal service. As a Beckenham Junction tram departs from the stop, a New Addington tram arrives.

Tram No 2547, some seven months before public services began

Passengers disembark at East Croydon railway station from a Tramlink Elmers End service.

Looking west. This is probably the busiest stop on the system, because of the easy interchange with trains to London, Brighton and Gatwick Airport, as well as many other railway destinations. The track for eastbound cars is on the right.

Occasionally a Croydon tram appears painted all over to advertise a local enterprise: here is car 2552 at East Croydon, promoting an entertainment centre.

10th May 2010 saw the 10th anniversary of the opening of Tramlink (previously Croydon Tramlink), when the public service on route No.3, from Croydon to New Addington, commenced. This ran from New Addington, through Croydon, on the loop, to New Addington. Within weeks, routes No.1 and No.2 were operational, linking Croydon to Wimbledon, Beckenham Junction, and Elmers End. Nowadays, route No.3 runs from New Addington to Wimbledon, via Croydon. For several weeks, prior to the commencement of the public service, a “ghost” service had been run, to test the timetables; cars stopped at red traffic lights, as empty trams sailed past. On 10th May, I found myself in Manchester, whilst returning from a business trip. Frustrated that delay had followed delay, in the opening of Tramlink, I decided to take a short ride on one of Manchester’s trams. Some hours later, when I arrived back at East Croydon, I was faced with torrents of rain and, joy, oh joy, trams running! So, I managed journeys on both systems on the same day. Ten years on, Tramlink’s 24 trams carry an annual 26.5 million passengers. Other road users, and pedestrians, are used to the trams gliding past; sometimes only a few feet away from café and pub seating. Here, a tram has just arrived at the East Croydon stop. Image

View across East Croydon railway station.

This track is used by cars going to the Town Centre, either round the loop, (as in this case), or through to Wimbledon (Route No 3 cars). The track on the right is normally used only for short-working cars, while off-camera far right is the track for the eastbound cars to Elmers End, Beckenham Junction, or New Addington.

Opened in 1841 by the London & Brighton Railway. Forecourt view north east. The main building dates from 1992.