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Home , Cross River Tram, London Trams, New Addington, Phipps Bridge tram stop, Tramlink

4203 SLT brochure 6/21/04 19:08 Page 1

South Transport for Everyone The case for extensions to 4203 SLT brochure 6/21/04 19:09 Page 2

South Introduction

South London Partnership Given the importance of good Tramlink is a highly successful integrated transport and the public transport system. It is is the strategic proven success of Tramlink reliable, frequent and fast, offers a partnership for south in the region, high degree of personal security, Partnership together with the is well used and highly regarded. London. It promotes London Borough of Lambeth has the interests of south established a dedicated lobby This document sets out the case group – South London Trams – for extensions to the London as a sub-region to promote extensions to the network in south London. in its own right and as a Tramlink network in south London, drawing on the major contributor to the widespread public and private development of London sector support for trams and as a world class city. extensions in south London. 4203 SLT brochure 6/21/04 19:09 Page 4

South London Trams Transport for Everyone

No need for a ramp operated by the driver

“ delivers The introduction of Tramlink has The tram has also enabled Integration is key to Tramlink’s been hugely beneficial for its local previously isolated local residents success. Extending Tramlink fast, frequent and south London community. It serves to travel to jobs, training, leisure provides an opportunity for the reliable services and the whole of the community, with and cultural activities – giving wider south London community trams – unlike buses and trains – them a greater feeling of being to enjoy these benefits. provides a comfortable being used by all socio-economic part of London. and safe journey.” groups – from daily business Tramlink carries almost 20 commuters to elderly pensioners Tramlink is a fully integrated million passengers a year and National Audit Office report and weekend shoppers. system with over 50 local bus the numbers are still growing. Improving Public Transport in connections. With these local bus The extended network will Through Light Rail (April 2004). Those who experience difficulty connections, interchanges with provide new links to the with other modes of transport – 7 mainline rail stations and the proposed such as mums with pushchairs or tube at Wimbledon, the tram extension, the tube, hospitals, the mobility impaired; as well as works in harmony with other town centres and employment those residents who previously public transport services to provide parks in south London. did not have access to frequent a fully co-ordinated, seamless and reliable public transport – journey for the passenger. Reliability find Tramlink a safe, easy and convenient mode of transport. The NAO evaluation of national Tram 99% Journeys are secure– with on- tram services (April 2004), reports that: tram CCTV and every driver Bus 97% and every tram stop constantly “We found that integration monitored by the control centre, with bus services was poor to even late at night. Tube 93% moderate on four of the five systems when they first opened – the exception being the Average speed Tramlink”. Tram 25kph

Bus 10-14 kph 4203 SLT brochure 6/21/04 19:09 Page 6

South London Trams Good for the Environment

The River Wandle in Hall Park Tram passing through

Trams are Running right into the heart of Tramlink has not only helped to Extensions to Tramlink will town centres, Tramlink is a viable, reduce pollution and congestion, give even more people access environmentally friendly. realistic form of transport for it has also helped to create to south London parks and By providing fast reliable those wanting an alternative to new green spaces, enabled the open spaces – including the car. Almost 20% of passengers planting of more trees and made Crystal Palace Park and its and attractive public have switched from their cars to parks and rivers more accessible. sports facilities – and the transport, they the tram. proposed 500 hectare ■ Replacement tree planting Wandle Valley Country Park. encourage people to Powered by electricity (with significantly increased the leave their cars at home. 15% currently purchased from number of trees growing renewable energy sources), trams in the area use far less fuel per passenger journey than buses, cars or taxis ■ The Phipps Bridge tramstop and do not emit fumes, thus provides a new public improving the air quality in transport gateway to Morden urban areas. Hall Park, river and wildlife areas – making this accessible In addition, each tram can carry to more people over 200 passengers – equal to nearly 3 double-decker buses ■ Improvements to open space or 2 bendy-buses. Trams take including the up less road space than buses. County Park and Wandle Park, Less cars and fewer buses mean and the creation of 11 acres less congestion. of new public space in previously neglected and Tramlink has eased local overgrown areas. congestion, achieving a 4% reduction in the annual average daily flow of traffic. (NAO report Improving Public through light rail) 4203 SLT brochure 6/21/04 19:09 Page 8

South London Trams Good for Regeneration

Beddington Cross Ikea shoppers

Unemployment has been In addition, better and more Employers have benefited as a The modern cosmopolitan image reliable training and jobs have been result of the tram’s long operating of the tram has had a significant reduced. Between 2000- brought within reach of people day. New areas for recruitment effect on the visual appeal of 2002 unemployment in living on isolated housing estates. have opened up as staff can be town centres. Streets are more recruited from further afield. pleasant, less congested and less areas served by the tram Local businesses and the retail Employers state that they have polluted, making them better fell by 9.3% more than industry have benefited. Most seen an increase in the punctuality places for leisure and relaxation, describe the tram as having a and productivity of their workforce which in turn helps to attract areas not served, with positive effect, helping to raise due to the tram’s reliability. new investment. one area, Fieldway, their profile and increase customer and business activity. “[The Tram] has Extensions to the network seeing unemployment Weekend patronage of the tram will give a new development fall by over 35%. serving certain shopping areas opened up areas impetus and potential is far higher than the average. [for recruitment] like investment to a further six Tramlink has helped to attract town centres and will offer inward investment by creating and improved access to 160 new fast public transport links because sites where development and encouraged development on the early tram meets opportunities exist. The industrial estates along the route. extensions pass through some our requirements” of the highest unemployment Large shift-based employer areas in south London – in Croydon – ‘Economic and bringing improved access regeneration impact of Croydon to training and jobs for Tramlink’, Colin Buchanan and those residents. Partners, 2003. 4203 SLT brochure 6/21/04 19:09 Page 10

South London Trams Good for Health and Local Prosperity

Sutton Junior Tennis Club indoor court Purley Hospital

By helping to reduce air Pupils attending schools along the The extensions to Tramlink The London Sustainable route of Tramlink use the tram to could provide fast and reliable Development Commission pollution, contributing to travel to and from school, with transport to major hospitals in has set challenging indicators reduced unemployment many schools and colleges using south London that are currently for a sustainable London. this as a key marketing tool. only accessible by bus or car. An extended tram network and improving access to This would significantly improve in south London will make parks, Tramlink has a Economically, the tram has a access to health services for a significant contribution to: positive impact on residential people living in some of south positive impact on south property. Areas served by Tramlink London’s poorest areas and ■ Increased labour force Londoners’ health. saw a rise in property prices and, to those, predominantly older, participation by improving since Tramlink opened, property people who do not have access access to jobs prices in Croydon have risen by to a car. 4% more than in areas not ■ Reduced road traffic volumes served by the tram. The extensions will also by reducing the need for car improve public transport access based travel and replacing to local sports facilities such some buses as Crystal Palace, the Sutton ■ 2 Arena and the Sutton Junior Reduced CO emissions and Tennis Centre. improved air quality by using electricity rather than petrol Extensions could aid access to or diesel a proposed development in ■ , including a leisure More pupils and students centre and ice rink, placing it using public transport to within easy reach of half a travel to school or college million south London residents. The tram has brought a new sense of civic pride and belonging to many parts of south London – people are proud of their tram and enjoy using it. Extensions will contribute to a sustainable south London. 4203 SLT brochure 6/21/04 19:09 Page 12

South London Trams The Financial Case

Tramlink was built as a Major infrastructure projects Although the initial investment Developing light rail utilising old require a large amount of capital cost is high – over a thirty year heavy rail routes and adding to private/public funded expenditure up front – this is the timeframe – taking the initial an existing system is more cost project with the private case for roads and trains as well investment and annual operating effective than developing light rail as trams. Tramlink runs a cash costs together, the cost of a tram from scratch, and means minimal sector providing £100 surplus before interest payments is cheaper than conventional disruption to traffic and roads. million of the total and, in common with other buses or bendy-buses. major transport projects funded £225 million costs, partially by the private sector, Annualised cost comparison South London Partners have a capital cost of just interest payments impose a over a 30 year period direct experience with the significant financial overhead in implementation of a tram £7.8 million per km. the early days of such projects. Conventional bus £46m scheme. There is existing infrastructure, a depot, skilled It is currently carrying Bendy-bus £32m staff and on-the-ground almost 20 million expertise. According to the Business passengers a year with Tram £20m Plan, the estimated cost of numbers still rising. building the four extensions is £530m. The high visibility Tramlink was established partly of Tramlink and its well on redundant heavy rail lines and documented economic and partly on-street running – making regeneration benefits make it a cost effective combination the case for the construction of old and new development. of extensions to the current Former rail stations have been system unarguable. rebuilt to meet modern standards. 4203 SLT brochure 6/21/04 19:09 Page 14

South London Trams Good for London

Laying the tracks

Tramlink is proven to be South London Partnership The London Plan predicts Tramlink has been a success believes that extending the significant growth in population on almost all counts and alone a valuable and effective tram will have a positive impact and jobs in south London. The among national tram schemes, transport solution. It has on south London and will tram extensions lie in areas, many it received very favourable benefit London as a whole. severely deprived, with high comment in the recent National had a positive impact on public transport demand and Audit Office report ‘Improving both the residents and The tram extensions will link with high density of commercial Public Transport in England the proposed southern extensions and residential use. The tram is Through Light Rail’. businesses it serves. to the East London Line at West ideally placed to support further Croydon and Crystal Palace – economic growth, higher density It has been a London achievement. providing a fast orbital connection developments including homes at Building the extensions will from south London to north-east key centres along the routes and show once again that London London – and provide further make it easier for employers to can deliver. integration with the London attract the staff they need. Underground network and the overground system. A potential first stage of an orbital fast tram network around London. Westminster

Chelsea Greenwich HEATHROW Clapham Hounslow Junction DLR Richmond Putney

Wimbledon Streatham Tooting Crystal 4203 SLT brochure 6/21/04 19:09 Page 16 Palace Kingston Upon Mordon Junction Thames Mitcham

South LondonTolworth Trams West CroydonWestminster East Sutton Croydon

Chelsea GrGreenwicheenwich New Addington HEAHEATHROWSURREYTHROW Purley Clapham BrBrixtonixton HounsloHounsloww Junction DLR RichmondRichmond PutneyPutney KENT M25 Park & Ride GATWICK

Wimbledonimbledon StreathamStreatham Tooting Crystal Palace Kingston Norbury BecBeckenhamkenham Upon MorMordendon Junction BromleyBromley ElmerElmerss End THAMES MitcMitchamham

TTolwolworthorth West CroydonCroydon OrOrpingtonpington East Sutton CrCroydonoydon

New Addington PurleyPurley

KENT Coulsdon M25 Park & Ride GAGATWICKTWICK

Tramlink (Existing) Aspirations for further extensions South London Partnership Area Motorway Underground station Tramlink Extensions under consideration Scheme Town or district centre Major road East London Line extensions

Membership of South London Partnership London Boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Kingston, , Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth; Business Link for London; London South Learning & Skills Council; South London Council of Chambers of Commerce; South London Business; Kingston University; SELTRANS (the SE partnership); SWELTRAC (the SW London transport partnership); and the SW London Health Authority.

South London Trams is also supported by the London Borough of Lambeth.