The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its report today into the derailment of a tram on the Croydon Tramlink on 25 May 2006.
The full report is available here:
A summary of the key points from the report is included below -
Summary
On Thursday 25 May 2006 a tram travelling eastbound between Wimbledon and Croydon on board derailed on the approach to Phipps Bridge tram stop. As the tram approached the points they had remained, incorrectly, in the reverse position after the last ram in the opposite direction. After the leading bogie of the tram had passed over them the points sprang back into the normal position. With the front and rear of the tram diverging, the centre bogie derailed. There were no injuries caused by the derailment.
A derailment had occurred at the same location in very similar circumstances on 21 October 2005. The report of the RAIB investigation into this incident was published on 29 March 2006.
The immediate cause of the derailment was that the tram driver did not react to the "points not correctly set" indication on the signal approach to Phipps Bridge, and so did not stop the tram before the points. Causal factors were the points not returning to their normal position following the passage of the previous tram; the points then changing position as the tram passed over them; and the poor visibility of the indicator display when the points are not set correctly. In addition there were four contributory factors to the incident.
Recommendations
The RAIB has made two recommendations as a result of the report, aimed at:
- ensuring the competence of staff working on points mechanisms; and
- driver training programmes.
Notes to Editors
1. The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety. The RAIB does not establish blame, liability or carry out prosecutions.
2. For media enquiries please call 020 7944 6984.
Newsdate: 8 August 2007
