Havering To Get Trams?

[Neilandrewhall]

I didn't see this posted elsewhere.

A north-east London council is considering building a tram route as part of plans to boost the local economy.

Havering Council says it will carry out a study to see if trams could connect the north of the borough to its south.

Council leader Ray Morgon said other options include light rail or a "rapid bus" system.

Existing public transport in the area mainly provides east-to-west journeys into central London or towards Essex.

The council suggests that the trams could run from Harold Wood through Romford and Upminster, towards a proposed railway station at Beam Park in Rainham.

It said the route could also potentially connect with the Docklands Light Railway and the proposed Essex-Kent tram link, known as the KenEx Tram.

Councillor Morgon said: "Whatever the outcome, a rapid north/south connection [would] bring prosperity and growth to the borough and improve the lives of Havering's residents.

"We will announce the next steps once the study is finished."

Havering Council proposes tram route for borough

The council is doing a feasibility study for a route connecting Havering's north and south.

www.bbc.com

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Surely it would make more sense to just make a decision and stick to it, rather than havering?

(Ba-dum tisch!)

 

[christopher]

Complete non starter, the proposed route could easily be done by a couple of changes to the existing bus network for a fraction of the price. Maybe a version of the East London Transit bus system at a push would happen.

Also, is Beam Park actually happening? Seems rather pointless considering trains would only have just left Rainham and Dagenham Dock before having to stop again.

 

[Sunil_P]

Complete non starter, the proposed route could easily be done by a couple of changes to the existing bus network for a fraction of the price. Maybe a version of the East London Transit bus system at a push would happen.

Also, is Beam Park actually happening? Seems rather pointless considering trains would only have just left Rainham and Dagenham Dock before having to stop again.

Not pointless for these people:

We're living a newbuild nightmare - we spent £550,000 but now we're 'stuck'

HOMEOWNERS who paid up to £550,000 for their dream homes say their lives are a misery after a promised train station never opened. Residents in Beam Park, East London, were told a station of the sa…

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[Bishopstone]

If the Superloop bus concept is successful, then a variation on that theme is probably the best way to connect the north and south of Havering.

 

[Sunil_P]

East London Transit is just a trio of glorified bus routes, nothing special really!

 

[renegademaster]

These schemes get proposed every couple of years, and Croydon was the only one to ever make it to implementation, and they had the advantage of lots of derelict BR rights of way laying about.

 

[Busaholic]

Not pointless for these people:

We're living a newbuild nightmare - we spent £550,000 but now we're 'stuck'

HOMEOWNERS who paid up to £550,000 for their dream homes say their lives are a misery after a promised train station never opened. Residents in Beam Park, East London, were told a station of the sa…

www.thesun.co.uk

Caveat emptor. I'd want a bit more than a developer's word about a 'new station opening' before committing to a half million plus purchase of a house. Any internet search would have revealed the paucity of evidence for such a claim.

As for Havering, they don't have any powers to start developing tram networks even if they had the spare cash, which they most certainly don't. Has no-one in the area been watching neighbouring Thurrock Council Tories bankrupting their benighted residents with their cruel fantasies?

 

[christopher]

Not pointless for these people:

We're living a newbuild nightmare - we spent £550,000 but now we're 'stuck'

HOMEOWNERS who paid up to £550,000 for their dream homes say their lives are a misery after a promised train station never opened. Residents in Beam Park, East London, were told a station of the sa…

www.thesun.co.uk

"Misery" Oh please, it's a 10 minute bus ride at most to Rainham Station

 

[Sunil_P]

"Misery" Oh please, it's a 10 minute bus ride at most to Rainham Station

But how far is the nearest bus stop?

 

[LLivery]

Quite crazy that they're proposing Superloop without any going through Havering, despite Havering probably having the most anti-ULEZ, pro-Tory population in London.

Beam Park will happen eventually, from what I gathered it's politics over relatively small bits of money for operating costs, but the money to build it is there.

We do need more trams in London, though.

 

[Snow1964]

This feels like another would prefer trams to a rubbish bus service idea.

Probably join the list of proposed schemes that died :
Greenwich Waterfront
East London transit (became bus EL1, EL2)
Cross River scheme
Kingston area north-south scheme (became enhanced 65)

Not for this thread, but Superloop is turning out to be just another bus service, with fancy branding, standard buses, and smaller bus stops skipped

 

[zwk500]

There's a slightly older article in Railway Gazette here, https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/light-rail-in-havering-council-infrastructure-vision/64156.article, and there's a 2018 study here: https://issuu.com/3foxinternational/docs/havering_v3_low.

 

[Roger1973]

At the risk of being told off for going off track, but I think Havering may be the only (current) London borough that never had first any generation trams.

 

[Neilandrewhall]

There's a slightly older article in Railway Gazette here, https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/light-rail-in-havering-council-infrastructure-vision/64156.article, and there's a 2018 study here: https://issuu.com/3foxinternational/docs/havering_v3_low.

Wow this is really good!

 

[Mgameing123]

This feels like another would prefer trams to a rubbish bus service idea.

Probably join the list of proposed schemes that died :
Greenwich Waterfront
East London transit (became bus EL1, EL2)
Cross River scheme
Kingston area north-south scheme (became enhanced 65)

Not for this thread, but Superloop is turning out to be just another bus service, with fancy branding, standard buses, and smaller bus stops skipped

I support the new bus routes coming from Superloop but i'm not a fan of how they are advertising it. All Khan wants is to just say "Look I actually added new bus routes" but without any effort. He could just said he will add more X bus routes.

 

[The exile]

To deliberately misinterpret the title and use a Scottishism - one of the major problems that have beset tram schemes is all the havering that goes on!

 

[Dr_Paul]

There's a slightly older article in Railway Gazette here, https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/light-rail-in-havering-council-infrastructure-vision/64156.article, and there's a 2018 study here: https://issuu.com/3foxinternational/docs/havering_v3_low.

The map in the latter document also refers to an extension of the Central Line to Harold Hill -- the first time I've heard of that.

This feels like another would prefer trams to a rubbish bus service idea. Probably join the list of proposed schemes that died:

Kingston area north-south scheme (became enhanced 65)

'Kingston area north-south scheme (became enhanced 65)' -- That would have crossed the end of my road, but it's the first I've heard of this one as well. I would have liked to see how it would have negotiated the narrow roads and sharp bends of Petersham!

 

[Busaholic]

Quite crazy that they're proposing Superloop without any going through Havering, despite Havering probably having the most anti-ULEZ, pro-Tory population in London.

I'd guess because there's no way of connecting Havering with Bexley by bus without incredible diversions. I would suggest there may be scope in the future when the Silvertown Tunnel opens, assuming the X239 proposal goes ahead as a Superloop route and is extended south to Bromley. The terminus north of the river must be far from certain.

Why can't the long and tedious 5 route have an express equivalent, an East London equivalent of the 207 and 607, now SL8? I know traffic conditions are different (i.e. usually much worse) but it seems crying out for some new ideas.

 

[LLivery]

I'd guess because there's no way of connecting Havering with Bexley by bus without incredible diversions. I would suggest there may be scope in the future when the Silvertown Tunnel opens, assuming the X239 proposal goes ahead as a Superloop route and is extended south to Bromley. The terminus north of the river must be far from certain.

Why can't the long and tedious 5 route have an express equivalent, an East London equivalent of the 207 and 607, now SL8? I know traffic conditions are different (i.e. usually much worse) but it seems crying out for some new ideas.

True, but you could pretty easily use the A12 and A2 between Romford and Bexleyheath/Dartford for a new express route. That'd take you through Newbury Park, Wanstead, Leytonstone, Leyton, Stratford, Bow, Greenwich Pen, Kibrooke, Eltham, Falconwood. No idea whether it'd be popular though.

The X239 should definitely go to Bromley, but I do worry about the Bromley North branch. If there's an express bus every 10 mins, would anyone use the train?

 

[Basil Jet]

True, but you could pretty easily use the A12 and A2 between Romford and Bexleyheath/Dartford for a new express route. That'd take you through Newbury Park, Wanstead, Leytonstone, Leyton, Stratford, Bow, Greenwich Pen, Kibrooke, Eltham, Falconwood. No idea whether it'd be popular though.

Any bus through the Blackwall tunnel would be unreliable - it's best to make such routes shortish so it doesn't affect too many people.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

To deliberately misinterpret the title and use a Scottishism - one of the major problems that have beset tram schemes is all the havering that goes on!

Keep up at the back, I made the same joke in post #2...

Your delivery was much better though!

 

[Cowley]

Thread reopened for @MPW to update

 

[MPW]

BBC: No Money For Havering Trams

Shock news: council has not found any money to work on the NE London tram system centred on Havering.

Havering Council had said it would investigate the possibility a north-south tram through the borough, as most of the area's Tube and rail connections only provide for east-west connections with central London or Essex.

In August 2023, the council's leader, Ray Morgon, said the Havering Residents Association-run authority would commission a new feasibility study to "scope out" whether a tram or other transport upgrade could become a reality.

Almost two years on, the authority said no further research into the concept was carried out "because we do not have the finances to do so".

 

[Sunil_P]

This may be of peripheral interest but there's a consultation for a proposed Superloop SL12 bus from Gants Hill to Ferry Lane, Rainham going via Newbury Park, King George's, and Romford, ending on 23rd May.​

SL12 – proposed express bus service between Gants Hill and Rainham

We would like your feedback on proposals to expand the Superloop network with a new express bus service operating between Gants Hill and Ferry Lane in Rainham, via Romford. The route would be numbered SL12. The consultation period has now closed. You can find updates on

haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk

SL12 – proposed express bus service between Gants Hill and Rainham​

SL12 – proposed express bus service between Gants Hill and Rainham on Facebook Share SL12 – proposed express bus service between Gants Hill and Rainham on Twitter Share SL12 – proposed express bus service between Gants Hill and Rainham on LinkedinEmail SL12 – proposed express bus service between Gants Hill and Rainham link

We would like your feedback on proposals to expand the Superloop network with a new express bus service operating between Gants Hill and Ferry Lane in Rainham, via Romford. The route would be numbered SL12.

Use the following buttons to find out more about what is proposed, view maps and proposed bus stops, and have your say.

You have until Friday 23 May 2025 to give us your feedback.