As previously reported at the end of October the central Croydon loop was closed on London Tramlink to allow track replacement work to take place. The work took place between Saturday 27th October and Thursday 1st November and saw all tram services
suspended between Reeves Corner and initially Sandilands and then from Monday 29th October East Croydon.
During this period a number of different sites saw attention with the main task being the replacement of track near West Croydon tramstop on Station Road. Other areas which saw work were at Sandilands, East Croydon tramstop, Dingwall Road and there was utility work at Church Street.
Throughout the work tram services operated between Wimbledon and Reeves Corner (with the Stadler trams being heavily utilised on this service) and from East Croydon/ Sandilands to Beckenham Junction/Elmers End/New Addington. Because the Elmers End branch is used to store trams overnight early morning and late evening services on this line did not run, as is normal when the central Croydon loop is closed to trams.
All the work was completed in time and normal services resumed from the start of service on Friday 2nd November.
Our first view shows the track replacement work being undertaken on Dingwall Road on the approach to East Croydon tramstop from the town centre. Taken on 27th October. (Photo: Ian Buck)
The major work during this period was undertaken at Station Road near to West Croydon tramstop and this was being seen to throughout the town centre closure. This first view shows the scene on 27th October. (Photo: Ian Buck)
And then onto 30th October also at West Croydon. This close-up view shows one of the new gauge retaining bars which were being installed as part of the track relay works. (Photo: Ian Buck)
With East Croydon being a temporary terminus scenes such as this were common place - a tram in each of the 3 platforms. This 30th October view shows 2536, 2535 and 2543 - all trams on this half of Tramlink were the Bombardier CR4000s with the Stadler Variotrams being used on the Reeves Corner-Wimbledon section. (Photo: Ian Buck)
As an ex-Croydon Tramlink driver (4 1/2 years) it is fantastic to see all the improvements TfL are making to the system, especailally after the essentially austerity years when I was working on the trams (2003-2008) and the system was owned by Tramtrack Croydon Ltd.