London Tramlink is 15 years old. The first line – from New Addington to central Croydon – was officially opened on Wednesday 10th May 2000 and over the past 15 years the network has gone from strength to strength with 32 million passengers now carried each year. To celebrate the 15th anniversary CR4000 2546 has been adorned with a few vinyls showing how passenger numbers have grown since inception (and where they are estimated to be in another 15 years) and also a 15th anniversary logo. Still in the standard fleet livery of Lime Green, Blue and White the tram is now in service on the network commemorating the anniversary.
Currently the Tramlink fleet has six trams in full advertising liveries (2531, 2534, 2538, 2542, 2550 and 2554) plus 2546 in this slightly altered fleet livery with the remainder in the standard fleet livery. The fleet currently stands at 31 trams with 24 CR4000s and 7 Variotrams (of which one, 2560, is still undergoing commissioning). There are due to be another 3 Variotrams delivered over the next few months.
The network remains at the same size as in 2000 but the service pattern has changed with trams running from Elmers End to West Croydon, Beckenham Junction to West Criydon, Wimbledon to New Addington and Elmers End to Therapia Lane. Several extensions have been discussed over the years although none have yet materialised.
2546 celebrates 15 years of Tramlink at West Croydon on 11th May.
In 2000/2001 15 million passengers were carried...
...rising to 32 million in 2014/2015...
...with an estimated 60 million passengers expected to be carried by 2030.
A close-up of the anniversary logo. (All Photographs by Ian Buck)
Don’t forget the doubling of track at some former single track locations to accommodate the increased demand too!