Editing Tramlink (section)

==History==
===Inception===
In the first half of the 20th century, Croydon had many tramlines. However, these were all closed, the first was the [[Addiscombe]] – [[East Croydon station]] route through George Street to Cherry Orchard Road in 1927 and the last to close was the [[Purley, London|Purley]] - [[Embankment tube station|Embankment]] and Croydon (Coombe Road) - [[Thornton Heath]] routes closed in April 1951. However, in the Spring of 1950, the Highways Committee were presented by the Mayor with the concept of running trams between East Croydon station and the new estate being constructed at [[New Addington]]. This was based on the fact that the Feltham cars used in Croydon were going to Leeds to serve their new estates on reserved tracks. During 1962, a private study with assistance from BR engineers, showed how easy it was to convert the West Croydon - Wimbledon train service to tram operation and successfully prevent conflict between trams and trains.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

These two concepts became joined in joint LRTL/TLRS concept of New Addington to Wimbledon every 15 minutes via East and West Croydon and Mitcham plus New Addington to Tattenham Corner every 15 minutes via East and West Croydon, Sutton and Epsom Downs. A branch into Forestdale to give an overlap service from Sutton was also included. During the 1970s, several BR directors and up-and-coming managers were aware of the advantages. Chris Green, upon becoming managing director, Network South East, published his plans in 1987 expanding the concept to take in the Tattenham Corner and Caterham branches and provide a service from Croydon to Lewisham via Addiscombe and Hayes. Following on from the opening of the DLR a small group working under Tony Ridley, then managing director, London Transport, investigated the potential for further light rail in London. The report 'Light Rail for London', written by engineer David Catling and Transport Planner Jon Willis, looked at a number of possible schemes including conversion of the East London Line. However a light rail network focussed on Croydon, with the conversion of existing heavy rail routes, was the most promising. The London Borough of Croydon wanted to improve access to the town centre without further road building and also improve access to the LCC built New Addington estate. Furthermore, road traffic in Croydon expanded considerably during the 1980s and planners were keen to apply public transit to fulfil the recorded growth in demand in the area.<ref name = "tfl tramhistory"/> The project was developed by a small team in LT, headed by Scott McIntosh and in Croydon by Jill Lucas.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

The scheme was accepted in principle in February 1990 by [[Croydon London Borough Council|Croydon Council]] who worked with what was then [[London Regional Transport]] (LRT) to propose Tramlink to Parliament. The Croydon Tramlink Act 1994 resulted, which gave LRT the power to build and run Tramlink.<ref name=tramlinkact>{{Cite web |title = Croydon Tramlink Act |year = 1994 |url = http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/localact1994/ukla_19940011_en_2#pt1-l1g4 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121026062753/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1994/11/contents/enacted#pt1-l1g4 |archive-date = 26 October 2012 |language = en-GB}}</ref><ref name = "tfl tramhistory"/>

===Construction===
Both the delivery and operation of the tramway was accomplished via a competitive [[invitation to tender|tender]] process.<ref name = "tfl tramhistory"/> During November 1995, it was announced that four [[consortium|consortia]] were shortlisted to build, operate and maintain Tramlink:<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Light rail shortlist |magazine = [[Railway Gazette International]] |date = November 1995 |page = 715 |language = en-GB}}</ref>
* Altram: [[John Laing Group|John Laing]], [[Hitachi Rail Italy|Ansaldo]], [[Serco]]
* Croydon Connect: [[Tarmac Group|Tarmac]], [[AEG (German company)|AEG]], [[Transdev (historic)|Transdev]]
* CT Light Rail Group: [[Alstom|GEC Alsthom]], [[Mowlem]], [[Welsh Water]]
* Tramtrack Croydon: [[FirstGroup|CentreWest]], [[Royal Bank of Scotland]], [[Sir Robert McAlpine]], [[Amey plc|Amey]], [[Bombardier Transportation]]

In May 1996, Tramtrack Croydon (TC) was awarded a 99-year [[Private Finance Initiative]] (PFI) contract to design, build, operate and maintain Tramlink. The equity partners in TC were [[Amey plc|Amey]] (50%), [[Royal Bank of Scotland]] (20%), [[3i]] (20%) and [[Sir Robert McAlpine]] with [[Bombardier Transportation]] contracted to build and maintain the trams and [[FirstGroup]] operate the service.<ref name=":2">{{cite press release |title=Tram concession award provides boost for South London |date=25 November 1996 |publisher=London Transport |location= |url=https://www.railhub2.co.uk/rh7/archive/arc_article.php?doc=1996-11-25%20LRT-001 |last= |first= |access-date=2024-10-02 |agency=}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = Preferred bidder selected for Croydon tram project |magazine = [[Rail (magazine)|Rail]] |issue = 279 |date = 22 May 1996 |page = 15 |language = en-GB}}</ref> TC retained the revenue generated by Tramlink and LRT had to pay compensation to TC for any changes to the fares and ticketing policy introduced later.<ref name="tfln7741" /> The concession agreement with TC was signed in November 1996, allowing construction to begin.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/25-november-1996-operating-agreement-between-tram-operations-limited-and-tramtrack-croydon-limited |title = 25 November 1996 Operating Agreement between Tram Operations Limited and Tramtrack Croydon Limited |website = london.gov.uk |access-date = 13 May 2024}}</ref>

Construction work started in January 1997, with an expected opening in November 1999. The first tram was delivered in October 1998 to the new depot at Therapia Lane and testing on the sections of the Wimbledon line began shortly afterwards.<ref name=tl>{{cite web |url=http://www.croydon-tramlink.co.uk/info/history.shtml |title=The Makings of Croydon Tramlink |website = croydon-tramlink.co.uk |access-date=6 May 2020 |language = en-GB}}</ref> Part of its track is the original route of the [[Surrey Iron Railway]] that opened in 1803.<ref>{{Cite book |last= Wolmar |first= Christian |authorlink= Christian Wolmar |year= 2007 |title= Fire & Steam: A New History of the Railways in Britain |location= London |publisher= Atlantic Books |isbn= 978-1-843-54629-0 |language = en-GB}} See p.&nbsp;7 and note&nbsp;11 on p.&nbsp;319.</ref>

===Opening===
The official opening of Tramlink took place on 10 May 2000 when route 3 from Croydon to [[New Addington]] opened to the public. Route 2 from Croydon to [[Beckenham Junction]] followed on 23 May 2000, and route 1 from [[Elmers End]] to [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]] opened a week later on 30 May 2000.<ref name=tl/><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6406828.Trams_link_hope_is_back_on_track/ |title = Trams link hope is back on track |website = newsshopper.co.uk |first = Mithran |last = Samuel |date = 20 July 2001 |language = en-GB}}</ref> It was the first modern tram project in London, with [[low-floor tram]]s and low platforms allowing accessibility for all.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-09-29 |title=Tram-endous london links |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6455040.tram-endous-london-links/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=News Shopper |language=en |quote=The fact that the system is already fully accessible to disabled people and is a reliable service means more passengers will benefit.}}</ref>

===Buyout by Transport for London===
In March 2008, TfL announced that it had reached agreement to buy TC for £98{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = TfL to take over Tramlink |magazine = Today's Railways UK |issue = 77 |date = May 2008 |page = 24 |language = en-GB}}</ref> The purchase was finalised on 28 June 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/annual-report-and-statement-of-accounts-2008-09.pdf |title = AnnualAccounts for year ended 31 March 2008 |publisher = Transport for London |page = 158 |language = en-GB}}</ref> The background to this purchase relates to the requirement that TfL (who took over from London Regional Transport in 2000) compensates TC for the consequences of any changes to the fares and ticketing policy introduced since 1996. In 2007, that payment was £4{{nbsp}}million, with an annual increase in rate.<ref name=tfln7741>{{Cite press release |url= https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/march/tfl-announces-plans-to-take-over-tramlink-services |title=TfL announces plans to take over Tramlink services |access-date=18 March 2008 |date=17 March 2008 |publisher=Transport for London |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080412011803/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/7741.aspx |archive-date=12 April 2008 |url-status=live |language = en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = Croydon buy out |magazine = Railway Gazette International |date = April 2008 |page = 212 |language = en-GB}}</ref> Despite this change, FirstGroup continues to operate the service.

During October 2008, TfL introduced a new livery, using the blue, white and green of the routes on TfL maps, to distinguish the trams from buses operating in the area. The colour of the cars was changed to green, and the brand name was changed from Croydon Tramlink to simply Tramlink.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/latestnews/s-green-Tramlink/article-385546-detail/article.html |title=It's green for go at Tramlink |last=Kottegoda |first=Maheesha |date=9 October 2008 |work=Croydon Advertiser |access-date=10 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009215248/http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/latestnews/s-green-Tramlink/article-385546-detail/article.html |archive-date=9 October 2008 |language = en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.mylondon.news/news/nostalgia/gallery/brilliant-pictures-croydons-forgotten-red-23415470 |title = Brilliant pictures of Croydon's forgotten red trams that vanished 14 years ago |first = Bea |last = Isaacson |date = 17 March 2022 |website = mylondon.news |language = en-GB}}</ref> The rebranding work was completed in early 2009.

===Additional stop and trams===
[[Centrale tram stop]], in Tamworth Road on the one-way central loop, opened on 10 December 2005,<ref name=":0" /> increasing journey times slightly. As turnround times were already quite tight, this raised the issue of buying an extra tram to maintain punctuality. Partly for this reason, but also to take into account the planned restructuring of services, (subsequently introduced in July 2006), TfL issued tenders for a new tram.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Croydon town centre : Routes : Croydon Tramlink : TheTrams.co.uk |url=https://www.thetrams.co.uk/croydon/croydon/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=www.thetrams.co.uk}}</ref> However, nothing resulted from this.

In January 2011, TfL opened a tender for the supply of ten new or second-hand trams from the end of summer 2011, for use between Therapia Lane and Elmers End.<ref name=rgltsbfat>{{cite magazine |url= http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/london-tramlink-seeks-bids-for-additional-trams.html |title=London Tramlink seeks bids for additional trams |date=31 January 2011 |magazine= Railway Gazette International |location= London |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121102131738/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/london-tramlink-seeks-bids-for-additional-trams.html |archive-date=2 November 2012 |language = en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = New Trams for Croydon |magazine = Rail |issue = 663 |date = 9 February 2011 |page = 16 |language = en-GB}}</ref><ref name=rgi20110818/> On 18 August 2011, TfL announced that [[Stadler Rail]] had won a £16.3{{nbsp}}million contract to supply six [[Stadler Variobahn|Variobahn]] trams similar to those used by [[Bergen Light Rail|Bybanen]] in [[Bergen]], Norway.<ref name=rgi20110818>{{cite magazine |url= http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/stadler-wins-london-tramlink-tram-order.html |title=Stadler wins London Tramlink tram order |date=18 August 2011 |magazine= Railway Gazette International |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110917051215/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/stadler-wins-london-tramlink-tram-order.html |archive-date=17 September 2011 |language = en-GB}}</ref> They entered service in 2012.<ref name=RailwayGazette21Aug13>{{cite web |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/london-tramlink-orders-more-stadler-trams.html |title = London Tramlink orders more Stadler trams |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103134936/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/london-tramlink-orders-more-stadler-trams.html |archive-date=3 January 2017 |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 21 August 2013 |language = en-GB}}</ref> 
In August 2013, TfL ordered an additional four Variobahn trams for delivery in 2015, for use on the Wimbledon to Croydon link, an order later increased to six. This brought the total Variobahn fleet up to ten in 2015,<ref name=RailwayGazette21Aug13/><ref name=TfLWimbledonNewTrams>{{cite press release |title=London Tramlink orders four new trams for Wimbledon branch |url= http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/28456.aspx |publisher=Transport for London |date=30 August 2013 |access-date=1 September 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130901205013/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/28456.aspx |archive-date=1 September 2013 |language = en-GB}}</ref> and 12 in 2016 when the final two trams were delivered.<ref name=BTO/>