Editing Tramlink (section)

===Construction===
Both the delivery and operation of the tramway was accomplished via a competitive [[invitation to tender|tender]] process.<ref name = "tfl tramhistory"/> During November 1995, it was announced that four [[consortium|consortia]] were shortlisted to build, operate and maintain Tramlink:<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Light rail shortlist |magazine = [[Railway Gazette International]] |date = November 1995 |page = 715 |language = en-GB}}</ref>
* Altram: [[John Laing Group|John Laing]], [[Hitachi Rail Italy|Ansaldo]], [[Serco]]
* Croydon Connect: [[Tarmac Group|Tarmac]], [[AEG (German company)|AEG]], [[Transdev (historic)|Transdev]]
* CT Light Rail Group: [[Alstom|GEC Alsthom]], [[Mowlem]], [[Welsh Water]]
* Tramtrack Croydon: [[FirstGroup|CentreWest]], [[Royal Bank of Scotland]], [[Sir Robert McAlpine]], [[Amey plc|Amey]], [[Bombardier Transportation]]

In May 1996, Tramtrack Croydon (TC) was awarded a 99-year [[Private Finance Initiative]] (PFI) contract to design, build, operate and maintain Tramlink. The equity partners in TC were [[Amey plc|Amey]] (50%), [[Royal Bank of Scotland]] (20%), [[3i]] (20%) and [[Sir Robert McAlpine]] with [[Bombardier Transportation]] contracted to build and maintain the trams and [[FirstGroup]] operate the service.<ref name=":2">{{cite press release |title=Tram concession award provides boost for South London |date=25 November 1996 |publisher=London Transport |location= |url=https://www.railhub2.co.uk/rh7/archive/arc_article.php?doc=1996-11-25%20LRT-001 |last= |first= |access-date=2024-10-02 |agency=}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = Preferred bidder selected for Croydon tram project |magazine = [[Rail (magazine)|Rail]] |issue = 279 |date = 22 May 1996 |page = 15 |language = en-GB}}</ref> TC retained the revenue generated by Tramlink and LRT had to pay compensation to TC for any changes to the fares and ticketing policy introduced later.<ref name="tfln7741" /> The concession agreement with TC was signed in November 1996, allowing construction to begin.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/25-november-1996-operating-agreement-between-tram-operations-limited-and-tramtrack-croydon-limited |title = 25 November 1996 Operating Agreement between Tram Operations Limited and Tramtrack Croydon Limited |website = london.gov.uk |access-date = 13 May 2024}}</ref>

Construction work started in January 1997, with an expected opening in November 1999. The first tram was delivered in October 1998 to the new depot at Therapia Lane and testing on the sections of the Wimbledon line began shortly afterwards.<ref name=tl>{{cite web |url=http://www.croydon-tramlink.co.uk/info/history.shtml |title=The Makings of Croydon Tramlink |website = croydon-tramlink.co.uk |access-date=6 May 2020 |language = en-GB}}</ref> Part of its track is the original route of the [[Surrey Iron Railway]] that opened in 1803.<ref>{{Cite book |last= Wolmar |first= Christian |authorlink= Christian Wolmar |year= 2007 |title= Fire & Steam: A New History of the Railways in Britain |location= London |publisher= Atlantic Books |isbn= 978-1-843-54629-0 |language = en-GB}} See p.&nbsp;7 and note&nbsp;11 on p.&nbsp;319.</ref>