73% of tram users say they are overcrowded (Croydon Liberal Democrats)

Croydon Liberal Democrats <yourviews@croydonlibdems.org.uk>

73% of tram users say they are overcrowded

March 2, 2009 12:00 AM

Stephen Dering and Caroline Pidgeon with tram survey outside City Hall

Stephen Dering and Caroline Pidgeon review tram survey results at City Hall

Croydon Central Liberal Democrat campaigner Stephen Dering and Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and vice-chair of the Transport Committee launched a damming report today into overcrowding on the Croydon tram network.

73% of respondents to the Liberal Democrat survey highlighted that overcrowding was unacceptable, or so bad that they could not board the tram.

The Lib Dem survey included over 1,000 tram users at 12 tram stops across Croydon Central in the early mornings between 9 and 13 February, Stephen Dering said "the tram has been a valuable means of public transport in Croydon but some routes have significant overcrowding problems during morning and evening rush hour. People cannot board or are squashed into any spare inch they can find."

"65% of respondents believed that the mayor was wrong to scrap the proposed extension to Crystal Palace. Additional trams running to Crystal Palace would help reduce some of the overcrowding," added Stephen.

"Caroline and I are going to take up the overcrowding and several other issues with Transport for London including improving safety at tram stops, problems with ticket machines and Oyster cards not working in some areas."