Croydon Tramlink-a private sector challenge

Croydon Tramlink is a new light rail transit system located in South London on the verge of implementation. The system will be financed mainly privately, and operated with no subsidy. The project was originally conceived during the mid 1980s and since then, and in record time for any British scheme, has been developed to the point of tender and contract award. During the last 2 years, the project has seen participation from three European private sector companies representing a major challenge and the formation of a unique joint venture. This paper describes the rationale and mechanism behind the joint venture, reviews some of the general and commercial issues presented, and focuses on a selection of the technical challenges