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Tramlink Flexity Swift CR4000

Tramlink is a light rail network in Croydon and across South London which is part of Transport for London. It commenced operations in 2000 along former heavy rail lines (the six and a quarter mile route from Wimbledon to West Croydon for example is nearly all ex-railway apart from a few diversions [1]) and new street lines. Bombardier's Flexity Swift tram was chosen for the initial rolling stock of the network. Twenty four articulated cars were produced ready for the start of operations.

Information
Number built: 24
Built: 1998-2000
Builder: Bombardier
Engine: 4 Bombardier Three-Phase traction motors (750v DC OHLE)
Power: 644 hp (480 kW)

The CR4000 tram is similar to the K4000 tram built for Cologne. It has a "seventy six percent" low floor design with a cab at each end. The tram has six axles with the articulated section being on an unpowered bogie. The fleet received a refurbishment in 2008-9 which included new seats and LED lights.

In November 2016 a CR4000 overturned at speed (later found to be travelling too fast for the junction it was travelling over). Seven people died and fifty-eight others were injured. Following the incident a number of extra safety features have been rolled out to the fleet including a reduction in the top speed to forty five mp/h [2].
2543 at Wimbledon

2531 at Mitcham Junction

Behind the cab

2543 departs Mitcham Junction

Some sections of the network are single track

[1] John C. Gillham, Wimbledon to Beckenham before Tramlink (Middleton Press, 2001) p. 3
[2] Colin J. Marsden, Light Rail (Key Publishing, 2018) p. 32