The Tramlink delays occur throughout the week and at all times of day, disrupting the journeys of thousands of South London commuters
Tram users in South London are being held up “again and again” by individuals recklessly parking on the tracks, according to new data. Carelessly parked vehicles are a particular problem at several key bottlenecks in central Croydonwhere even brief obstructions can trigger knock-on delays across the Tramlink network.
While these selfish blockages cause unacceptable delays for many, Croydon locals believe part of the problem lies in the lack of good short-term parking in the town centre.
Data from Transport for London (TfL) requested by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) shows vehicles blocking the tracks have caused delays to scheduled tram services almost every month since November 2019. While cars parked within the tram’s “swept path” — the full width of road space a tram occupies — account for many of the hold-ups, emergency vehicles blocking the line have also contributed to delays.
The biggest impact on Tramlink commuters comes from the “ripple effect” these blockages create, forcing major cuts to scheduled services across the network — recorded in the data as “kilometres lost”. Because trams cannot easily bypass obstacles, a single blockage can cascade into large gaps in the timetable.
The scale and severity of incidents vary, with many causing delays of only a few minutes. However, some have had a far greater impact on the network — in one case, a 46-minute delay wiped 132.92 scheduled kilometres from the service. In total, the data shows these blockages have caused nearly eight hours of delays since late 2019.
“All the timings get disrupted because of one mistake,” Samir told the LDRS from behind the counter of the Sam Mobile & Vape Shop, which overlooks a key tram blockage hotspot on Croydon’s busy Church Street. “It just happens again and again.”
He said he regularly sees blockages caused by vehicles illegally parked on double yellow lines or outside the loading bay as trams travel along the narrow stretch of road towards Wandle Park.
“One time I saw the tram delayed for over 25 minutes,” he said. “The tram driver even had to open the doors to let the passengers out because they were getting quite upset.”
Shops along Church Street rely on the loading bay for deliveries, but traders say it is often taken up by non-commercial vehicles, leaving Croydon Council parking enforcement officers to eventually issue a PCN. “Most of the time people don’t even say sorry,” he added, referring to drivers who later return to collect their vehicles.
TfL identified a number of delay hotspots along the Croydon town centre stretch of the Tramlink, where the line runs through its most built-up area. Church Street was named alongside George Street and Crown Hill (outside the Whitgift Almshouses), with incidents occurring throughout the week at various times of day.
George Street, which is a designated pedestrian and cycle zone, was identified as the main hotspot for tram hold-ups, with 19 incidents since 2019. By comparison, Church Street is the second most affected location with 12 recorded blockages, followed by Crown Hill with six.
The data also shows that Church Street is frequently brought to a standstill by emergency services operations. Fault logs reveal multiple instances of ambulances parking directly on the tracks to attend emergencies, fire engines blocking the route, and police operations forcing line closures.
In one particularly notable incident, services were disrupted when a police car was parked directly inside the Church Street tram stop.
Veteran Surrey Street Market trader Jose Joseph believes many members of the public park without considering the tram’s route. He told the LDRS: “There have been many, many times I have had to leave my business to go and find people who have left their cars there.”
“This is not a small thing, it is a massive problem. I have raised this to the council. There may be doctors or nurses being impacted by this on the tram,” he added.
Despite this, Jose believes the delays caused by careless parking are a symptom of a wider lack of viable short-term parking in the town centre. “They are all stuck because there is no proper parking at the moment,” he said.
Last year, the LDRS spoke to Jose about his campaign to introduce 30 minutes of free parking in bays around the town centre. He said he sees six or seven people a day being ticketed, including market traders themselves.
He believes removing the financial barrier would help bring customers back and support struggling traders.
A resident who lives on Frith Road, which joins Church Street, told the LDRS: “Yes, they are parking badly. Everyone is guilty of doing this, but the parking in Croydon is extortionate.”
She added: “If you’re coming here for two minutes, you are not going to pay for an hour.”
Mark Davis, TfL’s General Manager for London Trams, said: “It’s extremely important that road users only park in designated parking areas. Obstructing the tramway is a criminal offence and not only inconveniences customers using London Trams but can also cause delays for other road users caught behind a trapped tram.
“We will continue to work with the British Transport Police and the London Borough of Croydon to take any necessary action against inconsiderate drivers.”
Croydon Council was approached for comment.
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