TfL to the rescue as trams finally call at Centrale shopping centre

11:49am Wednesday 3rd November 2004

After months of delays the Tamworth Road tram stop is to open after funding was received from Transport for London (TfL).

The tram stop, which is outside Centrale, already has a platform in place which was built and paid for by developer St Martin's as a condition of its planning permission for the shopping centre.

However, 21 trams an hour pass Centrale's Tamworth Road entrance without stopping because the equipment needed to convert the platform into a proper tram stop is missing.

Now TfL has agreed to fund the changes and pay for an additional tram on the route to avoid any delays on the tram network's timetable. It is hoped the new stop will be in use by early next year.

A new tram system running every seven to eight minutes between Wimbledon and New Addington will also be introduced.

Councillor Adrian Dennis, cabinet member for planning, environment and urban development, said: "Ever since Centrale was granted permission, we have been working to obtain the necessary investment to bring this tram stop into use. I am very pleased that Transport for London has made the decision to fund the changes."