West Croydon bus station is to close until 2016 during a multi-million-pound refurbishment.

No buses will stop at the station, which is used by around eight million passengers a year, from Saturday.

Transport for London (TfL) said the upgrade would create a more spacious environment for passengers, as well as improving lighting, customer information, disabled access and CCTV coverage.

The renovation, which will also see a shop open in the station, has been designed to accommodate a 20 per cent increase in passengers projected to result from the transformation of Croydon town centre.

TfL said work was scheduled for completion in early 2016.

Currrently an average of 150 buses an hour serve the station, which was built in 1983 and provides an interchange between the Tramlink and London Overground networks.

During the refurbishment, the last stop for the nine bus routes that currently terminate at West Croydon will be in St Michael's Road. 

There will be no alternative stop to West Croydon station during the closure, with TfL instead telling passengers to board buses at the next stop of their route. Twenty-three bus routes currently call at the station.

TfL, which put notices about the closure up at West Croydon this week, have been accused by Twitter users of failing to warn passengers far enough in advance.

Dana Skelley, TfL’s director of asset management, said: "Our passengers are very much at the heart of this redevelopment. The transformation of West Croydon bus station means that they will see significant improvements in the long term.

"We apologise in advance to any of our passengers who may be inconvenienced by these works."

TfL said additional staff would be at the station before and during the closure to help passengers 

Changes to bus routes

  • Buses that currently terminate at West Croydon (routes 154, 166, 194, 367, 403, 405, 412, 450, 689, T33) will terminate at St Michael's Road during the upgrade
  • Buses that currently travel along Tamworth Road (routes 264, 407 and 410) will instead stop in Poplar Walk
  • Routes 157 and 455 will stop in Wellesley Road
  • Passengers who usually board at West Croydon station should board at the next stop instead

Have passengers been given sufficient warning about the closure? Email chris.baynes@london.newsquest.co.uk or post a comment below.