Arena

Arena tram stop stands in the Woodside area of South Norwood, within the London Borough of Croydon. It sits beside the Croydon Sports Arena and serves two council estates nearby. The stop occupies the former trackbed of the Woodside and South Croydon Railway, which once carried steam trains through the area. No station existed here until Tramlink opened, bringing modern light rail to the site. The platforms lie at ground level on either side of the double track, with a junction just to the east. From this junction, trams either turn north on a purpose-built route or continue straight ahead along the old railway alignment. The stop forms part of a busy network linking Wimbledon, Beckenham Junction and Elmers End. Trains run every ten minutes off-peak in each direction, using low-floor Bombardier CR4000 and Stadler Variobahn trams. London Buses route 289 stops here, and passengers can change between trams and buses within an hour without extra charge. The National Cycle Route 21, known as the Waterlink Way, crosses the tram lines at this point, linking cyclists with the wider area. Visitors find a straightforward ground-level station with two platforms and clear signage. The surrounding landscape includes sports fields and housing estates, giving a sense of everyday suburban life. The junction east of the stop shows where routes split, offering a glimpse of the system’s design. Beyond the tracks, the old railway alignment stretches away, now carrying trams instead of steam trains. The stop provides a quiet place to watch trams glide past before heading on to their destinations.