Transport for London (TfL) has said that it has invited suppliers for its new fleet of trams. Officials have also described what the new stock would be like to ride, as well as promised a better service after recent faults.
Papers for the authority’s board meeting next week state: “The London Tram network provides a vital orbital link between town centres in South London; however, our current tram fleet is up to 24 years old and is reaching the end of its operational life. We are therefore seeking to replace it with new trams to deliver a more reliable service for customers and enhancing the customer experience.
“This would include features such as air-conditioning and charging points along with the latest safety features, building further on improvements already made within the network. A future contract award for new trams will be subject to funding being available. We have made progress by issuing a notice inviting potential suppliers to demonstrate how their experience and expertise would be appropriate to deliver the new trams.”
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Mayor commits to new trams in next four years
In May, Sadiq Khan committed to delivering new trams by the end of his current mayoral term in 2029.But TfL says it needs more cash from the Government to deliver the new stock.
Demand for trams continues to dwindle compared to pre-pandemic levels as South Londoners go about their post-Covid routines. Documents state: “London Trams demand in 2023/24 was five per cent lower than in 2022/23, and was around 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.”
It comes after further industrial action on the tram network was suspended after TfL addressed union members’ pay issues. The authority’s commissioner, Andy Lord, said: “I’m pleased that working closely with colleagues in Unite the Union, TfL have reached agreement on a range of measures to address pay issues for London Trams workers.”
Before this settlement, workers had walked out in the spring causing disruption on the network. On July 2, the latest dispute was resolved after one day of industrial action as the Wimbledon tennis championship got underway at the beginning of this month.
In May, engineers worked to fix trams ‘as quickly as possible’ after debris on the track damaged wheels on several services. Passengers experienced delays on parts of the network, while a section was also closed.
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