Transport for London (TfL) has proposed building a new tram loop near East Croydon station.
The authority has said that the loop is needed to link the network to the £1 billion Croydon Partnership Development and enable the tram system to keep up with service demand.
TfL has predicted that by 2031, the number of passengers using the Tramlink network will have doubled.
Three options have been put forward for consultation. The first two proposals include a 500-metre line, which will run either clockwise or anti clockwise, branching off the existing tracks on George Street down Dingwall Road and Lansdowne Road, rejoining the existing Tramlink line on Wellesley Road. The third option is a longer 800-metre line which would travel further along Dingwall Road onto Sydenham Road.
Alex Williams, TfL’s director of borough planning, said: “Croydon has very ambitious town centre redevelopment plans, which will need improved transport infrastructure to make sure people can get around the area easily.
“We want to hear local people’s views on these proposals which have been developed closely with both Croydon Council and the Mayor’s Office to help support this growth.”
The public consultation runs from November 3 to December 14, 2014.
Not likely to happen while anti-tram Boris and the tories are in power. There should already be a branch to Crystal palace.
Do not assume that this “extension” would benefit users. If trams are turned back at Dingwall Road, they will not be serving the Old Town and West Croydon, which would be bad for the ancient market and for access to rail and Overground.