Light Rail Transit Association

TfL to take over Croydon Tramlink services : Transport for London (TfL) has announced that it intends to take direct control of Tramlink services this year. TfL's offer of GBP98m to acquire Tramtrack Croydon Ltd, the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Concession holder which runs Tramlink, has been accepted. The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: "Bringing Tramlink into the control of TfL is excellent news for Londoners. "This will mean we can plan how to make the improvements that are required to cater for ever increasing numbers of passengers and provide them with the very best possible services."

The current contract requires TfL to make compensation payments, currently running at GBP4m pa, to Tramtrack Croydon Ltd for changes to the fares and ticketing policy introduced since 1996. The takeover means that TfL will no longer have to make those payments and will be able to concentrate on improving the network. Once the purchase is completed Tramlink would be managed by TfL's London Rail directorate, allowing TfL to develop Tramlink as a key part of the Capital's integrated public transport network.

There would be no change to the current fares and ticketing arrangements but improvements have already been proposed that would take effect as soon as TfL takes control of the network. It is hoped to increase some off-peak services and also to run additional services to relieve crowding on the Wimbledon to New Addington line.

18 March 2008