An ongoing dispute between a union and the tram operator in Croydon means there will be another tram strike on Wednesday, May 1.

The ASLEF union claims that drivers are not being offered good enough pay and working conditions by Tram Operations Limited (TOL).

TOL is a subsidiary of FirstGroup, which operates the tram network and directly employs the drivers.

Drivers are responsible for getting 80,000 people where they need to go on the 30 trams that run between Croydon and Wimbledon.

Earlier this week, Transport for London issued travel advice ahead of the strike.

A reduced service is set to run at eight minute intervals from 7am to 8pm between Wimbledon and East Croydon only.

Before and after these times trams will run every 15 minutes.

But in a bid to help early shift workers get into work the first two trams of the day will run from Therapia Lane to New Addington and back to Wimbledon.

Services are expected to return to normal on Thursday morning.

Mark Davis, TfL’s General Manager for London Trams, said: “We urge ASLEF and TOL to continue discussions and settle their dispute without further disrupting customers’ journeys with more strike action.”

There will be some extra buses along ‘key routes’ and TfL Travel Ambassadors on hand to help at busy stops. 

On the day passengers are advised to check the route before setting off at tfl.gov.uk/tram-strike. 

It is possible that there will also be strikes on May 9 and May 23, both Thursdays.