New Addington is currently experiencing extensive roadworks on its main routes, along with a two-week suspension of the tram service into Croydon
A Croydon MP has written to Transport for London (TfL) bosses after weeks of mounting travel disruption in New Addington, with some residents saying ‘poor’ replacement services have left them in ‘lockdown’. Changes to the area’s main bus route have compounded the sense of isolation across the community on the outskirts of London.
New Addington is already grappling with major roadworks along Lodge Lane and is now in the second week of a tram suspension, removing a key route into Croydon and the rest of Greater London. Kent Gate Way has also been closed for road works between Addington Interchange and Gravel Hill, adding further pressure to journeys in and out of the estate.
This week the 64 bus route — the main link between Croydon town centre and New Addington — has been terminating at Gravel Hill, leaving residents stranded and requiring many to walk the steep remaining stretch into the estate. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that some residents are now offering lifts to elderly and vulnerable residents who require lifts down Lodge Lane into Croydon.
TfL’s bus replacement services were badly affected earlier this week by a ruptured water main on their diversion route on Upper Shirley Road. This disruption prevented them from serving the tram stops at Gravel Hill and Lloyd Park.
New Addington is home to more than 20,000 residents in the far south of the borough. Many do not have access to a car and rely on public transport to reach shops, hospitals, and other services in central Croydon.
Local resident Lesley Fordham, who has a disability, told the LDRS that the combined impact of the works was forcing her into “lockdown, far worse than in March 2020.” Others have taken to social media to express their frustration, with resident Tonia Donovan commenting: “It’s totally out of order, creating bedlam everywhere.”
Earlier this month, New Addington resident Tay told the LDRS: “Whenever there are roadworks or TfL disruptions it reminds me of how poorly connected New Addington is to Croydon and the rest of London.”
In response, Natasha Irons, Labour MP for Croydon East, has written to Mark Davis, General Manager for London Trams at TfL, raising concerns about the adequacy of replacement services during the ongoing engineering works.
In her letter, the MP wrote: “While my constituents fully recognise the necessity of maintenance works to ensure the long-term reliability and safety of the (tram) network, they are experiencing significant disruption due to the limited and often unreliable replacement transport options currently in place.
“I have received repeated reports of infrequent shuttle services, overcrowding at peak times, poor timetable communication, and a lack of clear information both at stops and online. For many, these issues have resulted in missed appointments, longer and more complicated journeys, and considerable inconvenience.
“It is essential that TfL ensures adequate capacity, timely updates, and clear route information so that passengers can travel with confidence throughout the closure period. My constituents deserve a replacement service that meets basic expectations for reliability, accessibility, and clarity.”
She added: “Given the scale of the disruption caused by the planned works, I would have expected a more robust and passenger-focused replacement service to be provided.”
She has asked TfL to explain how replacement services were planned and assessed, what steps are being taken to improve reliability and capacity, and whether additional measures will be introduced.
No trams are currently running between East Croydon and New Addington until Wednesday, February 25, as part of a partial closure east of East Croydon station. This closure is so TfL can carry out essential track works.
TfL says it is working to ‘keep disruption to a minimum’
When approached for comment, TfL’s Mark Davis, told the LDRS: “We know how important a reliable tram service is for our customers, and we invest millions every year to keep the network safe and running well. Sometimes that means closing parts of the tramway so we can carry out essential upgrades, but we always work to keep disruption to a minimum, with engineers often working around the clock to complete vital work, and scheduling these activities in quieter school holiday periods.
“We’re sorry for the recent issues with the rail replacement bus service during the closure east of East Croydon. The sudden, emergency closure of Upper Shirley Road on Sunday, due to a burst water main, blocked part of the planned bus route and meant we couldn’t serve Coombe Lane and Lloyd Park tram stops as intended.
“Our teams moved quickly to introduce a shuttle between East Croydon and Gravel Hill to maintain connections, and this will remain in place until the emergency works are lifted. We appreciate our customers’ patience while we work hard to keep them moving.”
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