Mayor previously said there was no money

TRAMS are to be extended to Crystal Palace, Mayor of London, Boris Johnson has announced.

But he would not be drawn on when the new line might open or how the project would be financed.

Mr Johnson said: “We will now be looking at the whole scheme in detail. There will be issues around the timing and we will be looking at ways of financing it.”

The Mayor’s announcement last Thursday comes just a fortnight after Labour’s Mayoral candidate, Ken Livingstone pledged that restoring the Crystal Palace link would be his number one priority if he is elected next May.

Detailed plans for an extension were drawn up in Mr Livingstone’s time as mayor, but were abandoned by Mr Johnson when he was elected in 2008.

At the time he claimed there was no money for the scheme.

Mr Johnson would also not say whether the route approved under Mr Livingstone’s regime from South Norwood and up Anerley Hill, using part of Crystal Palace park to Crystal Palace parade, would form the basis on his own scheme.

Standing in front of a tram at East Croydon, symbolically bearing a “Crystal Palace” destination board, Mr Johnson said: “Travelling on the tram today, I know what a marvellous mode of transport it is.”

Mr Johnson paid tribute to the lobbying in Croydon, led, he said, by local London Assembly member, Steve O’Connell, which had persuaded him to look again at the extension.

He said: “Croydon plays a huge part in London’s economy and we want to help build on that.”

Mr O’Connell said: “I am delighted Boris has approved the extension.

“He has made the announcement and it is now up to people to get on with it.”

The Mayor also announced on Thursday that three companies are to be invited to bid to supply ten new trams. When these go into service, they will increase the frequency of services between Therapia Lane, central Croydon and Elmers End.