Trams

Are London Trams running today?

This page covers the London Trams in depth — route, stations, history, step-free access and quirks. For the live answer right now, including the current TfL status (Good Service, Minor Delays, Severe Delays, Part Closure or Suspended) and any reported disruption, see the live network status board on the homepage. It's refreshed every 60 seconds from TfL Open Data.

London Trams — historically known as Tramlink — is the modern tram network serving south London, centred on Croydon. It runs at street level on most of its route, dipping into former railway alignments and segregated reservations where possible, and provides a frequent, reliable connection between Wimbledon, Croydon and the south-east suburbs. It is the only tram system operating in Greater London, and the only tram service operated by TfL.

Where it runs

The network has four numbered routes, all of which pass through central Croydon:

• Route 1 — Elmers End ↔ Croydon (East Croydon).
• Route 2 — Beckenham Junction ↔ Croydon.
• Route 3 — New Addington ↔ Croydon ↔ Wimbledon.
• Route 4 — Elmers End ↔ Croydon ↔ Therapia Lane (peak only).

The network is essentially a tree centred on Croydon: trams arrive from the south-east branches (Elmers End, New Addington, Beckenham Junction) and continue west to Wimbledon, or terminate at one of Croydon's three tram stops — West Croydon, East Croydon and George Street.

A bit of history

London once had an enormous tram network — the largest in Europe at its peak in the 1920s and 30s, with trams running through almost every corner of the city. The original network was progressively closed from the 1930s onwards in favour of buses and trolleybuses, and the last tram in London ran in 1952. There was no tram service anywhere in the capital for nearly half a century.

Tramlink opened in 2000 as part of the regeneration of Croydon and the south-east suburbs. The route combined former railway alignments (much of the Beckenham and Elmers End branches), street-running through central Croydon, and a brand-new dedicated route to New Addington. It was operated as a public-private partnership until 2008, when TfL took it over completely.

The trams

The fleet is a mix of Bombardier CR4000 (the original 2000 fleet, refurbished) and newer Stadler Variobahn trams added during the 2010s expansion. All trams are fully accessible, with level boarding at every stop and wide doors for wheelchairs, buggies and luggage.

Notable stops

• Wimbledon — interchange with the District line and South Western mainline.
• East Croydon — major interchange with mainline rail to London Bridge, Victoria, Brighton and Gatwick.
• West Croydon — interchange with the London Overground Windrush line.
• Beckenham Junction — interchange with mainline rail to Victoria and Kent.
• Birkbeck — small but significant interchange with the Crystal Palace line.

Step-free access

The Trams network is fully step-free. Every stop has level boarding with the trams, every tram has wide accessible doors, and every stop has tactile paving. For wheelchair users, parents with buggies and anyone with mobility needs, Trams are by some distance the most accessible TfL rail mode in south London.

Hours

Trams run from approximately 04:30 to 01:30 on weekdays, with reduced services on Sundays and overnight. There is no formal Night Tram service, but late services are available on Friday and Saturday nights.

Common quirks

• Pay-as-you-go is the same as the Tube. Contactless and Oyster work for Trams exactly as for the rest of the TfL network, and tram fares are integrated with Tube/bus daily and weekly caps.
• The future of the network is being reviewed. TfL has long-term plans to expand or refresh the network — including potentially new routes to Crystal Palace or Sutton — but progress depends on funding.

Other lines

Guides