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

[whole diary]

[bobm]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Five trapped as tram overturns in Croydon



Five people are trapped and 40 people have been injured after a tram overturned in south London, the city's fire brigade has said.

The Met described the accident in Croydon, just after 06:00 GMT, as a "serious incident".

Hannah Collier, who lives nearby, said she saw people being carried away on stretchers.

Police, fire and ambulance crews are at the scene and people are being asked to avoid the area.

[ChrisB]

Odd photo then...showing a tram that is obviously the right way up and on the tracks by the look of it?

[JayMac]

That is just an image of 'emergency services at the scene'. Perfectly acceptable to illustrate the news item with.

There is definitely an overturned tram nearby.

[ChrisB]

Indeed, the second photo in the OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter) article which wasn't included in the quote does seem to show the underside of a tram in the background.

[SandTEngineer]

Reports coming in of 6 people killed.  If so then a very serious incident.

[JayMac]

Oh dear. That's really not good. Thoughts go out to all affected. 

[stuving]

This appears to be a railway accident, in that it's not on a road section. Nor is it old railway alignment, but a connection built for Tramlink, and at a junction.

[SandTEngineer]

It looks to be on the junction between the New Addington branch and the Elmers End/Beckenham Junction branch.

[chrisr_75]

This appears to be a railway accident, in that it's not on a road section. Nor is it old railway alignment, but a connection built for Tramlink, and at a junction.

Do these trams have 'flight' data recorders and/or plentiful CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) fitted?

[ChrisB]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

There has been "some loss of life" and dozens of people have been injured after a tram overturned in south London, police have said.

British Transport Police said it was "too early to confirm numbers" following the derailment in Croydon just after 06:00 GMT.

A number of people were freed but it is believed two people remain trapped.

The cause of the crash is unclear, with investigators from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch on the way.

Residents living near the scene described hearing "a big crash".




Live updates on Croydon tram crash

St George's Hospital in Tooting, south London, said 20 people have been brought in for treatment of which four are seriously injured.

The overturned tram remains on its side next to an underpass and appears to have derailed where the track branches.

Hannah Collier said: "I was in bed watching the election when I heard a big crash, which I thought was the wind.

"Then I heard people shouting and then the emergency services arriving.

"Later I saw at least one person being brought out on a stretcher."

At The Scene: Tom Edwards, BBC London's transport correspondent

It is a major incident and rail safety investigators are en-route.

As to what happened here, we don't know.

There are four lines here that converge further up that would perhaps indicate that points were to blame.

There was also torrential rain earlier perhaps that had something to do with it - but this is complete speculation.

The whole area has come to a standstill. No trams are coming or going from East Croydon station.

The mood is extremely sombre.


Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "I am in contact with emergency services and Transport for London (TfL^» (Transport for London - about)), who are working extremely hard to get the situation under control and treat those who have been injured.

"My thoughts are with all those involved in this incident."

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch will be sending investigators, it said.


Croydon Tramlink
◾London's only tram network operates from Wimbledon to Beckenham Junction, Elmers End and New Addington, via Croydon
◾It began operation in May 2000 as Croydon Tramlink, becoming the first tram system in London since 1952
◾More than 27 million passengers used the service in 2015/16
◾The network consists of 39 stops

[stuving]

This appears to be a railway accident, in that it's not on a road section. Nor is it old railway alignment, but a connection built for Tramlink, and at a junction.

Do these trams have 'flight' data recorders and/or plentiful CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) fitted?

Yes, they have an OTDR^▸ (On Train Data Recorder), as well as CCTV with two external cameras, though I don't know where they point. The stops have CCTV too, but that might not see far down the connecting track.

[chrisr_75]

This appears to be a railway accident, in that it's not on a road section. Nor is it old railway alignment, but a connection built for Tramlink, and at a junction.

Do these trams have 'flight' data recorders and/or plentiful CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) fitted?

Yes, they have an OTDR^▸ (On Train Data Recorder), as well as CCTV with two external cameras, though I don't know where they point. The stops have CCTV too, but that might not see far down the connecting track.

Hopefully for those affected, that will help with rapidly determining what went so badly wrong today. I would guess at least one of the cameras would be forward facing if they run on roads...

[JayMac]

Attached is an aerial image doing the rounds on twitter.

[ChrisB]

Speed looks like at least a contributing factor

[SandTEngineer]

Speed looks like at least a contributing factor

Speculation alert. We shouldn't attempt to second guess what have might have caused this.