Editing Tramlink (section)

===Sutton Link===
{{main|Sutton Link}}

During July 2013, then Mayor Boris Johnson had affirmed that there was a reasonable business case for Tramlink to cover the Wimbledon – Sutton corridor, which might also include a loop via [[St Helier Hospital]] and an extension to [[Royal Marsden Hospital#Sutton site|The Royal Marsden Hospital]].<ref>{{cite web |date=18 July 2013 |title=Boris tells City Hall there is 'reasonable business case' for extending tram route to Sutton |url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10557415.Boris_tells_City_Hall_there_is__reasonable_business_case__for_extending_tram_route_to_Sutton/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120504/http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10557415.Boris_tells_City_Hall_there_is__reasonable_business_case__for_extending_tram_route_to_Sutton/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=9 May 2018 |work=Your Local Guardian |language = en-GB}}</ref> In 2014, a proposed £320M scheme for a new line to connect Wimbledon to Sutton via Morden was made and brought to consultation jointly by the London Boroughs of Merton and Sutton. Although £100M from TfL was initially secured in the draft 2016/17 budget,<ref>{{cite web |date=15 March 2016 |title=TfL commits £100m to extending tram network from Wimbledon to Sutton |url=http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news/14345323.TfL_commits___100m_to_extending_tram_network_from_Wimbledon_to_Sutton/ |work=Sutton Guardian |language = en-GB}}</ref> this was subsequently reallocated.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 December 2016 |title=Why Croydon's tram network may now not be extended to Sutton |url=http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/100million-tram-link-between-croydon-and-sutton-in-doubt-as-mayor-of-london-shelves-funding/story-29969181-detail/story.html |language = en-GB}}</ref>

In 2018, TfL opened a consultation on proposals for a connection to Sutton,<ref name="consultations.tfl.gov.uk">{{cite web |year=2020 |title=Have your say on the Sutton link |url=https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/trams/sutton-link/ |publisher=Transport for London}}</ref> with three route options: from [[South Wimbledon tube station|South Wimbledon]], from [[Colliers Wood tube station|Colliers Wood]] (both having an option of a [[bus rapid transit]] route or a tram line) or from [[Wimbledon station|Wimbledon]] (only as a tram line). During February 2020, following the consultation, TfL announced their preference for a north–south tramway between Colliers Wood and Sutton town centre, with a projected cost of £425M, on the condition of securing additional funding. Work on the project stopped in July 2020, as Transport for London could not find sufficient funding for it to continue.<ref name="consultations.tfl.gov.uk" />

In February 2020, TfL announced the preferred route of the extension,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=17 Feb 2020 |title=Transport for London selects preferred route and trams for Sutton Link |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/projects-and-planning/transport-for-london-selects-preferred-route-and-trams-for-sutton-link/55792.article |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Railway Gazette International |language=en}}</ref> expressing their support for "Route Option 2 (Colliers Wood – Sutton) operated as a tram service ... assuming we are successful in securing funding to deliver the project".,<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Tara |date=2020-02-17 |title=Plan to extend Croydon tram network to Sutton moves a step closer |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/plan-extend-croydon-tram-network-17764833 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Railway Gazette International |language=en}}</ref>

On 24 July 2020, the project was temporarily put on hold due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. TfL said they were pausing development work on the scheme "as the transport case is poor and there remains a significant funding gap". [[Andy Byford]], [[Commissioner of Transport for London|London's Transport Commissioner]], said that this involves making 'difficult choices' about which projects can be funded.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/long-awaited-tram-extension-sutton-18658837 |title=Long-awaited tram extension to Sutton has been put on hold by Transport for London |website=mylondon.news |date=24 July 2020 |language = en-GB}}</ref>

During 2023, [[Sutton London Borough Council|Sutton's council]] leader Ruth Dombey advocated for the project and urged TfL and the [[Mayor of London|mayor's office]] to provide fair and adequate funding, especially in light of the [[Ultra Low Emission Zone|ULEZ]] charge. However, London Mayor [[Sadiq Khan]] dismissed the project as inadequate and pointed out the £440M funding shortfall.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEExZL1RgKs&t=7s |title=Budget 2023 - What happened to the Tramlink Sutton Extension? |via=YouTube |date=15 March 2023 |language = en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/23820200.tfl-says-can-no-longer-fund-sutton-tram-extension/ |title = TfL says it can no longer fund Sutton tram extension |website = yourlocalguardian.co.uk |first = Harrison |last = Galliven |date = 29 September 2023 |language = en-GB}}</ref> London Mayor Sadiq Khan faced criticism from Sutton MP [[Paul Scully]] on 21 April 2023, for the delayed Sutton tram extension project and implementing the [[Ultra Low Emission Zone]] charge without sufficient public transport alternatives, while defending the delay citing a £440M funding gap.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vickers |first=Noah |date=2023-04-21 |title=Minister criticises Sadiq Khan as Sutton tram extension still shelved |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/sadiq-khan-paul-scully-sutton-tram-ulez-b1075634.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119174547/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/sadiq-khan-paul-scully-sutton-tram-ulez-b1075634.html |archive-date=2024-01-19 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref> In December 2023, TfL stated that further progress will depend on funding agreements with other stakeholders such as local councils, the [[Department for Transport]], as well as [[Government of the United Kingdom|Government]], and that the Sutton Link is currently the only extension being considered.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Rival proposals included new bus routes.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.mylondon.news/news/transport/croydon-tram-extension-sutton-buses-28621816 |title = Case for Croydon tram extension to Sutton considered 'weak' so new London bus routes are coming instead |website = mylondon.news |first = Adam |last = Toms |date = 14 February 2024 |language = en-GB}}</ref>