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| Croydon tram crash: Driver 'doing 43.5mph in 12mph zone' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The tram that derailed in Croydon killing seven people was travelling at three and a half times the speed limit, investigators have said. | The tram that derailed in Croydon killing seven people was travelling at three and a half times the speed limit, investigators have said. |
| The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said the tram, which was carrying about 60 people, was travelling at 43.5mph in a 12mph zone. | The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said the tram, which was carrying about 60 people, was travelling at 43.5mph in a 12mph zone. |
| In its interim report, it said there was no evidence of any track defects, or obstructions on the track. | In its interim report, it said there was no evidence of any track defects, or obstructions on the track. |
| The investigation also found no malfunction of the braking system. | The investigation also found no malfunction of the braking system. |
| The tram derailed last Wednesday morning shortly after coming out of a tunnel with a 50mph speed limit. | The tram derailed last Wednesday morning shortly after coming out of a tunnel with a 50mph speed limit. |
| Croydon tram crash: Who were the victims? | Croydon tram crash: Who were the victims? |
| Bosses were warned of 'speeding trams' | Bosses were warned of 'speeding trams' |
| How safe are trams? | |
| Initial analysis shows the driver, Alfred Dorris, did apply the brake after coming out of the tunnel but only enough to reduce his speed from 50mph out of the tunnel to 43.5mph. The tram travelled 25m before stopping. | Initial analysis shows the driver, Alfred Dorris, did apply the brake after coming out of the tunnel but only enough to reduce his speed from 50mph out of the tunnel to 43.5mph. The tram travelled 25m before stopping. |
| Mr Dorris, from Beckenham, south-east London, has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released on bail until May. | Mr Dorris, from Beckenham, south-east London, has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released on bail until May. |
| It is understood that establishing if the 42-year-old, who has worked for First Group since 2008, was asleep or had blacked out are lines of inquiry. | It is understood that establishing if the 42-year-old, who has worked for First Group since 2008, was asleep or had blacked out are lines of inquiry. |
| BBC London Live: Latest updates | BBC London Live: Latest updates |
| The seven people killed in the crash were Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Logan, 52, Philip Seary, 57, Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, and Robert Huxley, 63, all from New Addington, and Mark Smith, 35 and Donald Collett, 62, both from Croydon. | The seven people killed in the crash were Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Logan, 52, Philip Seary, 57, Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, and Robert Huxley, 63, all from New Addington, and Mark Smith, 35 and Donald Collett, 62, both from Croydon. |
| A further 51 people were taken to hospital, with eight of them suffering injuries described by London Ambulance Service as serious or life-threatening. | A further 51 people were taken to hospital, with eight of them suffering injuries described by London Ambulance Service as serious or life-threatening. |
| The RAIB said factors that led to the speeding were still under investigation and it has advised London Trams and Tram Operations Ltd to put speed restrictions in place before the bend out of the tunnel. | The RAIB said factors that led to the speeding were still under investigation and it has advised London Trams and Tram Operations Ltd to put speed restrictions in place before the bend out of the tunnel. |
| Mike Brown, London's transport commissioner, said: "We will follow the RAIB's advice and, before service is resumed, will implement additional temporary speed restrictions and associated signage near Sandilands to supplement existing safety arrangements. | Mike Brown, London's transport commissioner, said: "We will follow the RAIB's advice and, before service is resumed, will implement additional temporary speed restrictions and associated signage near Sandilands to supplement existing safety arrangements. |
| "We are continuing to carry out a thorough safety assessment and are taking the advice of an independent panel of tram experts. | "We are continuing to carry out a thorough safety assessment and are taking the advice of an independent panel of tram experts. |
| "We will only resume services for the local community once that rigorous assurance process has been completed." | "We will only resume services for the local community once that rigorous assurance process has been completed." |
| The report also found: | The report also found: |
| Aslef, the train drivers' union, said it was "clear that the lack of adequate safety systems were at the root of this dreadful accident". | Aslef, the train drivers' union, said it was "clear that the lack of adequate safety systems were at the root of this dreadful accident". |
| Analysis by Tom Edwards, BBC London Transport Correspondent | Analysis by Tom Edwards, BBC London Transport Correspondent |
| It wasn't a surprise that the tram was going 43.5mph but it is still shocking nonetheless - that is three-and-a-half times the 12mph speed limit. | It wasn't a surprise that the tram was going 43.5mph but it is still shocking nonetheless - that is three-and-a-half times the 12mph speed limit. |
| The report says further speed limits should be imposed, and the mayor has said it will happen at three other sites on the tram system where they've identified - we can presume - similar issues of speed on bends. | The report says further speed limits should be imposed, and the mayor has said it will happen at three other sites on the tram system where they've identified - we can presume - similar issues of speed on bends. |
| What will be particularly worrying to commuters is why did it take this horrendous tragedy to identify these places? | What will be particularly worrying to commuters is why did it take this horrendous tragedy to identify these places? |
| This has also gone political. The unions, quiet until now, have broken their silence. They think this was down to a lack of safety equipment. | This has also gone political. The unions, quiet until now, have broken their silence. They think this was down to a lack of safety equipment. |
| Aslef also thinks Tramlink should be brought back under TfL's control and there are serious questions that previous incidents were not investigated properly. | Aslef also thinks Tramlink should be brought back under TfL's control and there are serious questions that previous incidents were not investigated properly. |
| This whole terrible incident seems to be escalating politically and the answers are months away. | This whole terrible incident seems to be escalating politically and the answers are months away. |
| District organiser Finn Brennan said a system to make sure trams travelling too quickly in a potentially dangerous area could be slowed down and stopped should be put in place, as on the mainline railway and London Underground. | |
| "If it had been then this awful event could have been avoided," he said. | "If it had been then this awful event could have been avoided," he said. |
| Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell thanked the RAIB for the speed the report had been released, adding the recommendations "should be very helpful in providing reassurance" to passengers once services resume. | |
| The Office of Rail and Road is carrying out its own investigation into whether safety rules were being followed. | The Office of Rail and Road is carrying out its own investigation into whether safety rules were being followed. |
| Chief inspector of rail accidents Simon French said the inquiry would look at the wider context of the accident, including the sequence of events, the way the tram was driven, the infrastructure and how people received their injuries. | Chief inspector of rail accidents Simon French said the inquiry would look at the wider context of the accident, including the sequence of events, the way the tram was driven, the infrastructure and how people received their injuries. |
| "We will also be looking into previous occurrences of over-speeding in this area and underlying management issues," he said. | "We will also be looking into previous occurrences of over-speeding in this area and underlying management issues," he said. |