Tramlink Developments

[Domh245]

Back in the early days of tramlink (when i was a toddler) a number of the trams had all over advertising liveries. I am glad to report that they have now made a comeback (albeit with different adverts!). They have been around now for a while, starting with 2534 in a maroon/white advert for McMillan Williams Solicitors. This was then followed up by 2531 in black and white, again for McMillan Williams. More recently, 2542 has gained an all-over red advert for Turkish Airlines, but best of all (and spotted today) was the return of "the yellow tram" in the form of 2550 - even though the previous incarnation was 2542. In addition to these, there has been 2554 running around in a croydon council livery for a while

It is also worth noting that almost the entire fleet has now been fitted with the new style of lights, as seen in the last 2 images, certainly a lot brighter than the previous version! They have also recently started doing some modifications to the interior, fitting green covers over the emergency door releases and putting down new stickers by the doors. Does anyone have any more information about if any more trams are getting stickered up, and who is funding the new lights and interior mods.

 

[edwin_m]

Those don't look bad, especially the first one which is a bit reminiscent of the original red and white which was far nicer than the current lime green livery IMHO. Certainly much better than some of the originals, one was a particularly hideous all-over dark purple advertising a venue that doesn't deserve free publicity here even if it still exists.

But someone needs to go out to B&Q and get a matchpot to paint the buffers, vents and mirror brackets!

I guess the light clusters are a drop-in LED replacement like the ones now fitted to most of the trains that use the "Wipac" cluster. They probably pay for itself in reduced costs of changing bulbs, plus some (probably notional) safety benefit in making the trams more visible (I'm glad the black advert didn't wrap round the ends).

I hope they remembered to replace the cyclops and pig's ear lights too, as they must need an isolation in the workshop when they have to change those bulbs!

 

[Clip]

But someone needs to go out to B&Q and get a matchpot to paint the buffers, vents and mirror brackets!

don't be silly - those are removable and as its a vinyl wrap would just be a pain to reapply a bit of it should one of them have to come off.

without knowing the depot personally Im sure its probably some sort of shore supply so theres no need for wires inside one of the sheds.

 

[edwin_m]

without knowing the depot personally Im sure its probably some sort of shore supply so theres no need for wires inside one of the sheds.

I do (or did) know the depot personally. Unless it's changed since 2000 the procedure is to drive the trams into the shed under their own power and isolate the OLE on the half-road in question. None of the several tram depots I've visited has a shore supply.

 

[Domh245]

Noticed today that there have been more internal mods to one of the trams (presumably as a trial before continuing to the rest of the fleet). Modifications I noticed are:

• Grab Handles repainted bright green
• Strap Handles replaced with new green versions (yet to be broken in, so quite sharp/uncomfortable)
• Door insides painted glossy black
• Removal and plating over of 'Tram Stopping' Illuminated signs. Pressing a stop button still set off the relay however
• Replacement of worn floor material in doorways
• Replacement of worn seat upholstery (same moquette)
• Red surround around passenger to driver communication panels
• New A4 clip-panels for advertising (supplementing use of door windows for communicating closures etc.)

My main gripe is that in the doorway sections, they have reduced the number of strap handles from 4 to 2, which may be 'interesting' in the morning peak when people are wedged in the doorways

 

[dave12435]

tbqh its surprising its has taken as long as it has for this to happen

 

[Bletchleyite]

[*]Removal and plating over of 'Tram Stopping' Illuminated signs. Pressing a stop button still set off the relay however

Why's that? Do they all call at all stations like Metrolink now?

 

[Domh245]

Apparently so. The only time I'd noticed a tram not stopping was a while ago whilst late at night. Nowadays, the stop at all stops, and will release doors, but if after a few seconds, nobody has opened the doors, the driver will lock the doors and move off.

 

[Busaholic]

When did Tramlink not stop at all stops on its individual route, in theory anyway? I've never read anything to suggest this doesn't/shouldn't happen.

 

[Antman]

When did Tramlink not stop at all stops on its individual route, in theory anyway? I've never read anything to suggest this doesn't/shouldn't happen.

In theory at least all stops are request stops although in practice trams rarely non stop any stops, early morning or late night being the most likely

 

[Mojo]

When did Tramlink not stop at all stops on its individual route, in theory anyway? I've never read anything to suggest this doesn't/shouldn't happen.

One of the "fun facts" announced by the female voice randomly said something like "Outside of central Croydon, and at less busy times, trams stop by request." I can't remember the exact annoucement, but it was something like that.

 

[Dstock7080]

Noticed today that there have been more internal mods to one of the trams (presumably as a trial before continuing to the rest of the fleet). Modifications I noticed are:

• Grab Handles repainted bright green
• Strap Handles replaced with new green versions (yet to be broken in, so quite sharp/uncomfortable)
• Door insides painted glossy black
• Removal and plating over of 'Tram Stopping' Illuminated signs. Pressing a stop button still set off the relay however
• Replacement of worn floor material in doorways
• Replacement of worn seat upholstery (same moquette)
• Red surround around passenger to driver communication panels
• New A4 clip-panels for advertising (supplementing use of door windows for communicating closures etc.)

My main gripe is that in the doorway sections, they have reduced the number of strap handles from 4 to 2, which may be 'interesting' in the morning peak when people are wedged in the doorways

Think it may have been tram 2553 you saw:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsqxnYhqyz8
A tram damaged in a traffic accident has returned back to public service after it was carefully restored by engineers.
Tram 2553, part of the CR4000 fleet, was struck by a lorry on the roundabout at King Henry’s Drive on 7 August 2014. The collision caused structural issues to the cab B car.
The extensive damage required specialist repair and a team from the Therapia Lane depot were drafted in to complete the work.
Fleet Engineer Trams, completed the initial reconstruction with assistance from Fleet Support Engineer Trams, the Trams production team and external contractors.

Refurbishment work included repainting the interior, installing new grabstraps and resealing the roof. London Trams took over maintenance of the trams in December 2015, which added to the complexity of delivering the repair.
“The 2553 repair job was one of the biggest challenges I’ve undertaken during my many years in the rail industry,”
said Project Manager. “The transformation from wreckage to a refurbished tram fit for service is something that Therapia Lane depot can be proud of.”
Once the cab repair had begun, 2553 was released into traffic within nine weeks. “We shall review what went well and apply these lessons to the refurbishment of the other 23 trams in the CR4000 fleet.”

 

[Domh245]

Yes, it was 2553, it seems to have been stalking me for the past few days! One of the other bits that I've noticed is that the Bodyside indicator lights are now comprised of 3 LEDs rather than the old filament lamps. I also noticed the removal of the stop buttons from the posts, which confirms the supposition of the tramlink moving away from request stops.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

How many of the latest batch of trams (2560-2563) have been delivered? I've seen 2560 in traffic but are any others in traffic? Presumably, they'll all be needed for the enhanced frequency on the Wimbledon line that's due in early 2016.

 

[Busaholic]

How many of the latest batch of trams (2560-2563) have been delivered? I've seen 2560 in traffic but are any others in traffic? Presumably, they'll all be needed for the enhanced frequency on the Wimbledon line that's due in early 2016.

According to latest London Omnibus Traction Society newsletter, now three weeks old, only 2563 remained to be delivered.

 

[Nicks]

Seems "Tramlink" is to be renamed "Trams"!

 

[Keith Jarrett]

I made a visit to Croydon last Saturday (12th December) and of the Stadlers, 2554, 2555, 2557, 2558 & 2559 from the first batch were in service while 2560 and 2562 of the second batch were in use. 2561 was out on test and 2556 was not seen.

 

[317 forever]

I understand that all the Stadlers are on the Elmers End - Wimbledon service. I hope so, as I shall be in the Wimbledon area 3 weeks from now!

 

[WatcherZero]

Wasn't there an issue that the Stadlers had a higher minimum curve radius than the Flexities (25m v 20m) and so had lower speed limits on some tight corners. Think that's why they were all put on one route to maintain even headways.

 

[Busaholic]

I understand that all the Stadlers are on the Elmers End - Wimbledon service. I hope so, as I shall be in the Wimbledon area 3 weeks from now!

Interesting that the Elmers End branch gets a Wimbledon link again - the original route 1 on Tramlink back in 2000. New Addington originally only got the Croydon loop to go round.

 

[Domh245]

Interesting that the Elmers End branch gets a Wimbledon link again - the original route 1 on Tramlink back in 2000. New Addington originally only got the Croydon loop to go round.

It doesn't get a Wimbledon link as such - unless things have changed recently. There is route 4 (Elmers End to Therapia Lane) but Wimbledon itself is only served by route 3 (at the moment).

As for the question about Variobahns in Wimbledon, there do seem to be a few on Route 3 (and all other routes for that matter) but I think the tram allocation isn't guaranteed to produce a certain number of Variobahns down to Wimbledon (but there is a quota for cental Croydon as the Borough helped pay for them)

 

[Busaholic]

It doesn't get a Wimbledon link as such - unless things have changed recently. There is route 4 (Elmers End to Therapia Lane) but Wimbledon itself is only served by route 3 (at the moment).
)

Changed permanently as of today! 7 trams operate this route on a standalone basis.

 

[Domh245]

Changed permanently as of today! 7 trams operate this route on a standalone basis.

So it did

The much vaunted increase in London Tramlink services to Wimbledon will be introduced from Monday 4th April with Line 4 extended from Therapia Lane through to Wimbledon. This increase will see 12 trams an hour to Wimbledon instead of the current eight.

Significant work has been taking place in recent months to enable these increased services to run including the construction of a second platform at Wimbledon. Four extra Stadler Variobahn trams were also ordered to allow the extra services to run with the last of these entering service recently.

From Monday 4th April all lines on London Tramlink will run independently with no interworking, services running as follows:

Line 1 – Elmers End to West Croydon

Line 2 – Beckenham Junction to West Croydon

Line 3 – New Addington to Wimbledon

Line 4 – Elmers End to Wimbledon

Line 4 will continue to only run between 0700 and 2000 Monday to Friday and from 0800 until 1900 on Saturdays with no service on Sundays. The service will run every 15 minutes during these times.

Rory O’Neil, TfL’s Director of Trams, said: “’The Tram network is a crucial transport link to the community it serves and we are committed to continually improving our services. The extra trams will help meet increasing passenger demand and make a real difference to the customers who use the service every day.”

 

[Keith Jarrett]

I was in Croydon yesterday (3rd April) and saw seven of the Stadlers in action. 2556 was visible on the depot while 2554 & 2559 were not seen.

Allocations were as follows -
Route 1 - 2558, 2562, 2563
Route 2 - 2555, 2557
Route 3 - 2560, 2561

All other workings were in the hands of the original fleet.

 

[Domh245]

Observed a number of Route 4 trams passing through Mitcham today - 2 CR4000s (2533, 2538) and a Variobahn (2563). Also a Variobahn on Route 3 (2559)

I also noticed that they have fitted more of the new style PIS boards as per the attached photo

 

[urpert]

I made a visit to Croydon last Saturday (12th December) and of the Stadlers, 2554, 2555, 2557, 2558 & 2559 from the first batch were in service while 2560 and 2562 of the second batch were in use. 2561 was out on test and 2556 was not seen.

During the Easter blockade I'm pretty sure they were all on the depot side of the central loop as I didn't see a single one on a service from East Croydon.

 

[Domh245]

I spotted another new thing today - a different style of onboard PIS as fitted to 2540 in the photo below. Fitted in the middle of the cars and at the cab ends. Also came with a cheesy "Welcome to this London Trams service to New Addington" line when the driver set it up.

I can't help but wonder what (if any) order there is to these 'refurbishments'.

 

[urpert]

They definitely seem to have gone back to sticking any tram on any route.