Sandilands Fatal Tram Crash

[CAM]

Croydon tram overturns: 'Some loss of life' and two trapped - BBC News

 

Serious tram crash in Croydon near Sandilands where the track diverges north and south. 50 sent to hospital, 2 trapped in the carriage and multiple fatalities with total numbers unconfirmed. The driver has been arrested and no reason has been given for the crash yet. The tram network has been paralysed in the town centre and Addiscombe Road, a major road route into Croydon via East Croydon station, has been blocked.

 

The last fatal crash to occur in the UK involving a tram was in Glasgow in 1978.

[elsiegee40]

Accident at 6am and there are still 2 people trapped

[6Foot2]

Link: Fatal tram accident in Croydon - News stories - GOV.UK

 

...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...

[Edu-IT]

There's reports that the driver blacked out / was asleep.

[CAM]

There's reports that the driver blacked out / was asleep.

 

Drivers are reported to have been taking that bend above the speed limit routinely. And if he did black out, there's a case for light rail to be brought in-line with heavy rail systems and be fitted with a deadman's handle as standard. Apparently not all the trams are fitted with one (along with TPS and AWS that would eventually stop a runaway vehicle).

[CAM]

Mr Braddock said: "On the tram control lever there is a button which the driver presses at least every 30 seconds. If that button is not pressed the brakes are applied automatically.

 

"It makes no difference if the driver is powering up or braking, he has to keep pressing that button. It's a routine that you get into."

 

If the driver lets go, the lever springs back to the neutral position, automatically applying the brakes.

 

There is also an emergency stop button, bringing the tram to an immediate stop in the eventuality of an emergency such as a car or pedestrian suddenly appearing in front of it.

 

RAIB report will be very interesting reading...

[elsiegee40]

Crash tram 'three times over speed limit' | BBC News

 

It was travelling at 43mph in a 12mph zone.

Edited November 16, 2016 by elsiegee40