Tram overturns in Croydon - 7 killed, 51 injured - 9 Nov 2016

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

The number of interviewees on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) tonight who expressed concern/ said they had complained to TFL^▸ (Transport for London) about trams speeding in that area was telling.....several described it as like being on a ride at Alton Towers....sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Croydon tram crash: Crane to lift carriages from site


Heavy lifting equipment has been brought to the site to move the tram

The tram that derailed in south London, killing seven people, is to be removed from the site later.

The crash, just after 06:00 GMT in on Wednesday, saw the tram derail as it negotiated a sharp bend in the track.

Six men and one woman died in the crash in Croydon, which also injured more than 50 people.

As well as the two minute silence to mark Armistice Day at the Croydon cenotaph, there will be an another minute to remember the victims.

[ChrisB]

An update from RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) email - they're moving swiftly on this

RAIB is investigating a fatal accident that occurred near to Sandilands Junction on the London Tramlink system. At around 06:10 hrs on Wednesday 9 November 2016, a tram derailed on the approach to the junction, and turned onto its side. At least seven people are now confirmed as having died as a result of the accident. A further 50 people were taken to hospital, most of whom have since been released.

The tram was operating an ‘inbound’ service from New Addington to Wimbledon via Croydon town centre. Sandilands Junction is the point where inbound trams from the Beckenham Junction/Elmers End and New Addington routes converge, shortly before they arrive at Sandilands tram stop (to the east of Croydon town centre). Trams approaching from the New Addington direction have to negotiate a sharp, left-hand curve with a speed limit of 20 km/h (12 mph) before reaching the junction. The derailment occurred on the curve and initial indications suggest that the tram was travelling at a significantly higher speed than is permitted.

We are currently collecting evidence needed to identify factors relevant to the cause of the accident and its consequences.

Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the tramway industry, the British Transport Police     or by the Office of Rail and Road    .

We will provide a further update in the form of an interim report next week. This will be available on our website.

We will publish a final report, including any safety recommendations, at the conclusion of our investigation.

Were you on the tram? Do you have any other information you consider relevant to this accident? If so, we would like to hear from you    https://forms.dft.gov.uk/raib-incident-reporting/

[TaplowGreen]

Driver has been released on Police bail after being arrested for manslaughter, looks like they're checking his mobile phone records as well as investigating whether he fell asleep.

[ChrisB]

Indeed, bailed until a date in May17

[onthecushions]

I would make no comment about the driver or other operating staff.

I am however surprised to see what is actually called a tramway. A tram as I understand it travels along shared carriageways with other road vehicles, the driver, like other road users (such as us) relying on sight and personal judgement, "permissive block" as we might call it..  The system in question does in fact twist around central Croydon's back lanes but most of it uses the former Wimbledon - West Croydon and Beckenham Junction - South Croydon branch lines. These were conventional railways, operated  by class 416 units with full block signalling, marking of speed limits etc. They have been somewhat adapted with curves barely 2ch (40m) radius with AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know) no signing or signal protection, with local speed limits as low as 12mph on 50mph routes.

The trams are 2x15m cars (electric Pacers in fact), 36t, packing 480kW (640hp, 18hp/t), carrying 200 people at 50mph,  with 750V dangling above.

If it looks like a railway, perhaps it is a railway.

OTC

[IndustryInsider]

Driver has been released on Police bail after being arrested for manslaughter, looks like they're checking his mobile phone records as well as investigating whether he fell asleep.

Standard procedure to check phone records.  That is done as a matter of course when investigating railway incidents that are far less serious than this one.

[ChrisB]

And I suspect, a breath test.

The extremities of the Metrolink in Manchester are the same - as in fact is the Birmingham set up between Birmingham & wolverhampton

[IndustryInsider]

And I suspect, a breath test.

Yes, standard procedure (on the heavy rail network at least) is for a drugs and alcohol screen to be conducted on any individuals involved in an incident of any serious nature.  This would be a urine test rather than breath test though, but if the police are involved and arrest anyone they would no doubt undertake a breath test themselves.

I remember many years ago as a driver I reported a 'near miss' to the signaller involving some trackside workers, a couple of whom were not in a position of safety when I approached.  I later found out that they were all immediately relieved of their duties and the whole team were tested for drugs and alcohol - this sort of zero tolerance approach is part of the reason the railways are so safe.

[JayMac]

My brief employ with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) via an agency, as a station customer service assistant, saw me having to undergo drug and alcohol screening before being given the job.

I was told that all staff employed on the railways were also subject to random testing, regardless of whether they had safety critical duties.

[LiskeardRich]

I was told that all staff employed on the railways were also subject to random testing, regardless of whether they had safety critical duties.

A friend was only telling me last week he was subjected to drink and drug testing on his first morning back from annual leave. He is a guard working units in Cornwall/Devon.

[JayMac]

@LondonTrams have now removed the picture of tram 2551 from their Twitter header.

[ChrisB]

3 amputees amongst the injured, according to the Evening Standard. Another with a collapsed lung

[Chris from Nailsea]

A further update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Croydon tram crash: More victims named after derailment


The named victims are Mark Smith, Dane Chinnery, Phil Seary and Dorota Rynkiewicz (L-R)

Four people who died when a tram derailed in south London, killing six men and one woman, have been named.

Phil Seary, Mark Smith, Dorota Rynkiewicz and Dane Chinnery were all travelling on the tram when it crashed just after 06:00 GMT on Wednesday.

The vehicle left the track as it negotiated a sharp bend. More than 50 people were also injured.

An extra minute's silence was added to the Armistice Day ceremony at Croydon Cenotaph to remember the victims.

British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) is investigating claims made in a Facebook post last week that a tram "lifted onto one side at 40mph" at the same spot.

[Electric train]

A further update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Croydon tram crash: More victims named after derailment


The named victims are Mark Smith, Dane Chinnery, Phil Seary and Dorota Rynkiewicz (L-R)

Four people who died when a tram derailed in south London, killing six men and one woman, have been named.

Phil Seary, Mark Smith, Dorota Rynkiewicz and Dane Chinnery were all travelling on the tram when it crashed just after 06:00 GMT on Wednesday.

The vehicle left the track as it negotiated a sharp bend. More than 50 people were also injured.

An extra minute's silence was added to the Armistice Day ceremony at Croydon Cenotaph to remember the victims.

British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) is investigating claims made in a Facebook post last week that a tram "lifted onto one side at 40mph" at the same spot.

The tragedy of this event seems to be the age profile of those killed, so young