Cross-River Tram
The Cross River Tram is a project to link Camden, Brixton and Peckham by tram. The project is organised by TfL (Transport for London), for the Cross River Partnership and the London Mayor. See TfL’s background information at their website.
Contents
Facts about the Cross River Tram
- This was due to be completed in its entirety by 2016
- The London Mayor announced a new Two Phase project in September 2007
- Phase one would be a south of the river project, and Phase two would take it to Camden
- Each tram will be approximately 45m long (two and half times as long as a bendy-bus)
- Would be part of the Oyster system
- Would go via Kings Cross and Waterloo
- Aims to relieve the overcrowded Northern line across central London, and reduce road traffic
- Improve transport links between south London and central and north London
The whole project is intended to run from Camden Town, Euston and Kings Cross in the north, down to Aldwych. It then goes across Waterloo Bridge to Waterloo Station where the line divides. One branch will go down towards Brixton (possibly via the Elephant), and the other branch will go down towards Peckham. The route between the Elephant and Peckham is still being decided, but both the main options avoid Walworth Road and Camberwell. One suggestion follows the route of the 343 bus - down Heygate St, Thurlow St, across Burgess Park and the Wells way and Southampton Way to Peckham. The second option is slightly more direct and crosses Burgess Park to meet Chandler way before arriving in Peckham town centre. There are two route options for crossing the main roads and the pedestrian town square by the Library, and then another two options for getting to the terminus near Peckham Rye station (see Waterloo-Peckham Section brochure).
Two Phase Tram Project
Because of opposition to the tram from Camden Council, London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, recently said that the first phase of the tram would be in South London but ending at Waterloo. He hopes that seeing the tram in south London will persuade Camden to drop its opposition. But without crossing the river straightaway, London would lose many of the benefits from the tram. Some have called for it to cross the river at least to the Aldwych. The Mayor has now said it will ‘probably’ cross the river to the Aldwych.
Read more
- Tram will "most probably" cross Waterloo Bridge says mayor
- Mayor: Trams in Waterloo after 2010; north of the river 2020
Peckham Vision added its voice to the calls for it to cross the river in its first phase, but says it has to link with a tube station, and not just stop at the Aldwych. We need a direct link with the Euro Star and long distant rail links, as well as with the Tube, through Euston, St Pancras/Kings Cross. But if Camden Council won't agree to this, alternatives might be a one-way loop at terminus at Temple on the Embankment or Holborn on Southampton Row? Both stations have nearby roads that might be suitable for a tram one-way system, creating a loop terminus there as well.
Consultation
- See also: TfL's Cross-River Tram overview brochure & Waterloo-Peckham Section brochure and their publications list
TfL carried out the first preliminary consultation ideas on the tram route (the consultation brochure is available here) in December 2006 & January 2007. This asked for views on different options at several parts of the route. TfL said they would consult later in 2007 on the locations for the tram depots, but this has been postponed to an unknown date.
The report on the consultation is now available at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/networkandservices/crossrivertram/5969.aspx
Tram routes through Peckham
TfL consulted on alternative options for tram routes in three places between Walworth and the terminus in Peckham town centre. All these options will still be relevant in the new Phase One of the tram project. The three alternatives were devised to attempt to overcome some of the problems one or other of the alternatives might cause:
- Getting the tram across Burgess Park and through north Peckham. The main issues here are how to minimise the disruption to Burgess Park and to road traffic on Wells’ Way.
- Getting the tram across the northern part of the town centre from Kelly Avenue to the bus garage and Morrison’s car park. The main issues here are how avoid or minimise the disturbance to residents in Joycelin St, the destruction of the pedestrianised and performance space in the town square, the disruption to traffic in Peckham Hill St and Peckham High St, the loss of historic buildings in the High St.
- Getting the tram from Morrison’s car park and Hanover Park to the terminus beside Peckham Rye Station. Here the issue is whether to go a short route along Cerise Rd to the area where the multi-storey car park is currently (which would be demolished), or whether to go a longer route via Clayton Rd and into the area proposed for the tram depot, and which could disrupt the north-south traffic flow at Consort Rd railway bridge.
See here for the consultation brochure and the description of the alternative options TfL proposed, and here for the results of the consultation.
One Way Loop tram route round Peckham Town Centre
As a result of the consultation, Peckham Vision has proposed a further tram route option which might resolve some of the problems caused by each of the alternatives in Peckham town centre. This is a single track tram route taking the tram one way from Kelly Avenue through the town centre behind the Library and south along Clayton Rd and Consort Rd to Heaton Road, and back along Rye Lane stopping right outside Peckham Rye station, and then out of the town centre via the High Street and rejoining the double track tram near Kelly Avenue.
Some of the possible advantages of this route would be that as a single track it would cause less disruption than a two way track which is more than double the width. The tram in Croydon town centre is one way single track and seems to work well. A single track might reduce or remove some of the problems faced by the TfL options. For example, a one way single way track might be more feasible along the narrow residential Joycelin Street, across the town square behind the Library, across the main roads, and along Rye Lane and the High Street than a two way double track tram. Such a one way loop around the town centre would not disrupt the south-north road traffic at Consort Road railway bridge, and it would have the big advantage of bringing the tram within walking distance of many more people in Nunhead, Peckham Rye, and East Dulwich. As it might be feasible as a single track to take it on to Rye Lane, it could also stop right outside Peckham Rye station, and be part of the opening up of the piazza in front of the station (see here for those plans). Peckham Vision has asked Southwark Council to ensure that TfL examines this possible route option with the Community Councils’ Tram Working Group which includes local residents.
Concerns about Tram Depot plans
There are many local concerns about the process surrounding the Cross River Tram consultation; in particular the proposal promoted by Southwark Council to use a large strategic site in Peckham's town centre for the Tram Depot. The Depot is naturally of huge significance when deciding on where the track will exactly run on the Cross River Tram. However, the Depot site search conducted by TfL was described by the Government Planning Inspector as being 'defective'. This was due to the incorrect belief by TfL that this large part of Peckham Town Centre was 'derelict' and unused. This Town Centre location, previously identified in Southwark's Unitary Development Plan (UDP) as Site 63P but now called site 71P, is several acres in size and is currently home to a growing community of artists, faith groups and small businesses, providing employment opportunities for hundreds of people as well as being a keystone to the regeneration of Peckham as a whole.
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Tram Depot Impact
The grey shaded area in the above map is designated in the Council's UDP (Unitary Development Plan) as development site (ref 63P/71P) for "a tram depot, bus garage depot, car parking, and retail on Rye Lane frontage". This area goes from 129 Rye Lane opposite Peckham Rye station, to Consort Road railway bridge, Consort Road, Brayards Road, Copeland Road and Bournemouth Road. It is around 6.5 acres in size, which is large enough easily to accommodate 4 football pitches. If the site is to be used as a Tram Depot then the whole site would be acquired by TfL and most used as a high security storage, maintenance and heavy engineering repair yard for the trams. This large area would be closed off to town centre use and would offer nothing for Peckham's local economy and residents, regardless of the proposed transport benefits to Peckham of the tram itself. In addition to the loss through blight and dislocation, Peckham could see its growing Cultural Quarter being destroyed before it has had a proper chance to flourish.
Potential re-developments on the site are being prevented from happening as Southwark Council wants to keep the site ready just in case it is used as a Tram Depot. This is even though it is many years before the Cross River Tram can be given the go-ahead.
More information can be found from TfL, and the Cross River Partnership.
TfL's search for a tram depot site
In 2006, TfL (Transport for London) said: "Ensuring that there is a sound, defensible, comprehensive basis to the selection of depot sites is fundamental to the Cross River Tram", and that there should be a: "Comprehensive site review … exploring potential sites over the entire Cross River Tram network area."
Peckham Vision has urged TfL to get on with this review to make sure the right depot site is found for the tram, and that it is really of benefit to the area around the site to be chosen. The depot does not have to be at the tram terminus. One of the sites TfL have on their list, as well as the heart of Peckham town centre, is a large industrial site off Ilderton Road, near the Old Kent Road. TfL have declined to release information on their depot site review.
Click here to see the location of Ilderton Road industrial site, and the possible links with the tram route to Peckham.
TfL's routes connected to possible Ilderton Road Depot
TfL's routes and PV's 'one-way loop' connected to possible Ilderton Road Depot
