Ken Livingstone has promised passengers on the Croydon Tramlink that they will get a better service as a result of a £98million buyout by Transport for London (TfL).
Tramtrack Croydon Ltd currently operates Tramlink services under a Private Finance Initiative, which started before the Greater London Authority and TfL were created.
Ken Livingstone, who this week launched his campaign for re-election, said: "This is a great deal for Tramlink passengers.
"No longer will we have to pay £4million a year to Tramtrack and we can put that cash into better services for the people of Croydon.
"The tram is very popular - passenger numbers are rising all the time and we can ensure that they get the best possible service."
Tramlink carries 25 million passengers and TfL plans to double the number of off-peak services between Elmers End and Beckenham Junction.
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It is also likely to run additional services to relieve crowding on the Wimbledon to New Addington line and will launch a concerted attack on graffiti and vandalism.
"We will peg fares and increase levels of investment in the system to ensure Tramlink can keep up with growing demand, all the while providing a safe, reliable service for passengers," Livingstone added.
Fares will be pegged to that of the buses. This is part of the annual payment to tramlink of £4Million that TfL currently make because Tramlink as a PFI deal could charge much higher fares. TfL on the other hand are charged with maximising use of public transport and subsidise bus use to enable a lower level of road congestion etc.
This then is good news for Croydon, Beckenham and Merton residents.
Fares will be pegged to that of the buses. This is part of the annual payment to tramlink of £4Million that TfL currently make because Tramlink as a PFI deal could charge much higher fares. TfL on the other hand are charged with maximising use of public transport and subsidise bus use to enable a lower level of road congestion etc.
This then is good news for Croydon, Beckenham and Merton residents.
Posted by: Kes, Upper Norwood on 8:14pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Where's the money coming from? Perhaps we'll find that out when Livingstone has gone!
I note he's now got Brown's support- no wonder ken's looking glum.
Where's the money coming from? Perhaps we'll find that out when Livingstone has gone!
I note he's now got Brown's support- no wonder ken's looking glum.
Posted by: richard francis, thornton heath/upper norwood border on 10:14pm Thu 20 Mar 08
And the support of the Green Party (Darren Johnson & Jenny Greene et al) - what a strange alliance! All to get Ken re-elected!! The Greens will never have my vote again, not until they can practise what they preach, and stand on their own platform. Ken's Green credentials are bogus, and now they look even more so, as Brockwell Park goes under the hammer, and Crystal Palace Park goes next. All urban parkland, with one or two notable exceptions, will sooner or later be auctioned to the highest bidder. Prophetic? Scare-mongering? No, just look at what's already happening.
And the support of the Green Party (Darren Johnson & Jenny Greene et al) - what a strange alliance! All to get Ken re-elected!! The Greens will never have my vote again, not until they can practise what they preach, and stand on their own platform. Ken's Green credentials are bogus, and now they look even more so, as Brockwell Park goes under the hammer, and Crystal Palace Park goes next. All urban parkland, with one or two notable exceptions, will sooner or later be auctioned to the highest bidder. Prophetic? Scare-mongering? No, just look at what's already happening.
Richard Francis is clearly just a protest 'Green'. Sure Ken is not really really deep green, but he has been quite green. Parkland is important, but dont let that fool you. We could open loads more parks, but that would not help the planet.
Better public transport, low emission zones, a revolution for cyclists. They are the true results of a Green Ken as Mayor. Maybe not as radical as a Green Party supporter wants, but actually quite a good record. If re elected, Ken will deliver a lot of what the Greens want. That must be good for London and good for the Green Party.
Richard Francis is clearly just a protest 'Green'. Sure Ken is not really really deep green, but he has been quite green. Parkland is important, but dont let that fool you. We could open loads more parks, but that would not help the planet.
Better public transport, low emission zones, a revolution for cyclists. They are the true results of a Green Ken as Mayor. Maybe not as radical as a Green Party supporter wants, but actually quite a good record. If re elected, Ken will deliver a lot of what the Greens want. That must be good for London and good for the Green Party.
Posted by: richard francis, thornton heath/upper norwood border on 9:19am Fri 21 Mar 08
Thanks for your generous endorsement, CV (Curriculum Vitae?). Many London buses travel, often at peak times, "Out of Service"; cyclists and pedestrians are still having a tough time; and "low emissions" would be fine if they were enforced. Parks are maybe just for dreamers, like myself, yet they do have a part to play in our lives - our health and well-being for a start.
Trams have their good points, but let us not be deluded that they are the Green answer to travel - their electicity has to be generated elsewhere, which has the same effect on pollution levels as other modes of transport which pollute perhaps more noticeably.
A "disaster" for the environment, if Ken is removed from office? Maybe. Maybe not - I voted for him first time round, and gave my second vote to Darren Johnson. I also voted for Johnson the second time. Never again, since their promises to me then were not kept. I would prefer to give someone else a chance.
Finally, my apologies to Jenny Jones, whose surname I confused. I hope that she and Darren, both of whom I have met, can grow in confidence, to the the point where they can challenge their Master, when the need arises.
Thanks for your generous endorsement, CV (Curriculum Vitae?). Many London buses travel, often at peak times, "Out of Service"; cyclists and pedestrians are still having a tough time; and "low emissions" would be fine if they were enforced. Parks are maybe just for dreamers, like myself, yet they do have a part to play in our lives - our health and well-being for a start.
Trams have their good points, but let us not be deluded that they are the Green answer to travel - their electicity has to be generated elsewhere, which has the same effect on pollution levels as other modes of transport which pollute perhaps more noticeably.
A "disaster" for the environment, if Ken is removed from office? Maybe. Maybe not - I voted for him first time round, and gave my second vote to Darren Johnson. I also voted for Johnson the second time. Never again, since their promises to me then were not kept. I would prefer to give someone else a chance.
Finally, my apologies to Jenny Jones, whose surname I confused. I hope that she and Darren, both of whom I have met, can grow in confidence, to the the point where they can challenge their Master, when the need arises.
Posted by: Kes, Upper Norwood on 9:52am Fri 21 Mar 08
It certainly won't be a disaster for council taxpayers if Ken gets kicked out. Those of us that pay in full, of course. Perhaps someone can remind us how much his element has gone up since his job was dreamt up by New Labour. But then, they didn't foresee him getting the job.
It certainly won't be a disaster for council taxpayers if Ken gets kicked out. Those of us that pay in full, of course. Perhaps someone can remind us how much his element has gone up since his job was dreamt up by New Labour. But then, they didn't foresee him getting the job.
Posted by: Paul, Upper Norwood on 12:42pm Fri 21 Mar 08
I have a composter and a sub surface digester in my garden; that is as green as I wish to go.
My ambition is to put Ken 'I still have my Adenoids' Livingstone into my digester and feed him to the plants one day.
I have a composter and a sub surface digester in my garden; that is as green as I wish to go.
My ambition is to put Ken 'I still have my Adenoids' Livingstone into my digester and feed him to the plants one day.
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