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Croydon tram crash 'caused by driver falling asleep and speeding' Croydon tram crash 'caused by driver falling asleep and speeding'
(35 minutes later)
Investigators believe the Croydon tram crash was caused by the driver briefly falling asleep before speeding through a sharp bend, but said that tram operators had failed to properly understand the risks and put enough safety measures in place. Investigators have said they believe the Croydon tram crash was caused by the driver briefly falling asleep before speeding through a sharp bend, but that tram operators had failed to properly understand the risks and put enough safety measures in place.
Inspectors said new measures were needed across Britain’s tram networks, including technology in trams to monitor drivers’ alertness and to automatically reduce speeds before dangerous junctions.Inspectors said new measures were needed across Britain’s tram networks, including technology in trams to monitor drivers’ alertness and to automatically reduce speeds before dangerous junctions.
Seven passengers were killed and 61 injured, 19 seriously, when the south London Tramlink tram came off the rails on 9 November last year. It was travelling at 73km/h (45mph) in a 20km/h (12.5mph) zone. Seven passengers were killed and 61 injured, 19 seriously, when the south London Tramlink tram came off the rails on 9 November last year. It was travelling at 73kmh (45mph) in a 20kmh zone.
Simon French, chief inspector at the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), said he was “surprised and concerned” at the lack of tram operators’ understanding of the risk of a vehicle overturning. He said: “It appears there was a gap here. It had been dismissed or thought not to be credible.” Simon French, the chief inspector at the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), said he was “surprised and concerned” at the lack of tram operators’ understanding of the risk of a vehicle overturning.
The RAIB found that even at a speed of 49km/h (30mph) the tram would have overturned. During the investigation, nine other drivers told inspectors that they had needed to brake heavily before the junction at Sandilands where the crash occurred. However, the RAIB said that drivers had been reluctant to report incidents or near misses to managers at First Group’s Tram Operations Limited, fearing disciplinary measures. “It appears there was a gap here. It had been dismissed or thought not to be credible,” he said.
Another speeding tram had come close to overturning on the same junction just nine days before, inspectors said. French said that more safeguards were needed on a “public transport system that is heavily reliant on the continued focus of the staff in a high-risk area”. The RAIB found that even at a speed of 49kmh the tram would have overturned. During the investigation, nine other drivers told inspectors they had needed to brake heavily before the junction at Sandilands where the crash occurred. However, the RAIB said drivers had been reluctant to report incidents or near misses to managers at First Group’s Tram Operations Ltd, fearing disciplinary measures.
The RAIB said a new, dedicated safety body for trams should be set up to combat an “inadequate understanding of risk” across the UK’s eight urban tramways. Another speeding tram had come close to overturning on the same junction just nine days before, inspectors said.
The final report into the accident said the driver could have fallen into a “microsleep” during a 49-second period when the tram was passing through three consecutive tunnels in the hours of darkness. Inspectors said it was possible that a “sleep debt” accumulated by the driver, who was regularly sleeping less than six hours a night before waking at 3.20am to go to work, could have made him fatigued. French said that more safeguards were needed on a “public transport system that is heavily reliant on the continued focus of the staff in a high-risk area”.
The RAIB said a dedicated safety body for trams should be set up to combat an “inadequate understanding of risk” across the UK’s eight urban tramways.
The final report into the accident said the driver could have fallen into a “microsleep” during a 49-second period when the tram was passing through three consecutive tunnels in the hours of darkness.
Inspectors said it was possible a “sleep debt” accumulated by the driver, who was regularly sleeping less than six hours before waking at 3.20am to go to work, could have made him fatigued.
The driver, Alfred Dorris, 43, from south-east London, told RAIB inspectors he had no recollection of the moments before the crash. Dorris was arrested by British Transport Police on suspicion of manslaughter and bailed after the crash. Police said on Thursday they were preparing a report for the Crown Prosecution Service.The driver, Alfred Dorris, 43, from south-east London, told RAIB inspectors he had no recollection of the moments before the crash. Dorris was arrested by British Transport Police on suspicion of manslaughter and bailed after the crash. Police said on Thursday they were preparing a report for the Crown Prosecution Service.
The report also called for tougher glass and doors to be used in vehicles, after finding that all the passengers who died and most of the seriously injured were flung out of the tram through smashed windows. The findings also called for the use of tougher glass and doors in vehicles, after finding that all the passengers who died and most of the seriously injured were thrown from the tram through smashed windows.
Sarah Jones, MP for Croydon Central, said the findings were “quite shocking”, adding: “There were missed opportunities to prevent this tragedy and safety improvements are needed across the network.” Sarah Jones, the MP for Croydon Central, said the findings were “quite shocking”, adding: “There were missed opportunities to prevent this tragedy and safety improvements are needed across the network.”
Transport for London said it had already introduced additional safety measures since the crash, including new signs, speed restrictions, and infrared eyeball monitors to alert tram drivers if they show signs of falling asleep.Transport for London said it had already introduced additional safety measures since the crash, including new signs, speed restrictions, and infrared eyeball monitors to alert tram drivers if they show signs of falling asleep.
Drivers’ union Aslef said the device would not have prevented the Croydon tragedy, but said trams needed the same standards of construction and automatic braking as trains. Finn Brennan, the union’s organiser on Tramlink, said: “Tram Operations Ltd should be dealing with the underlying causes of fatigue among staff and developing a fair culture that supports, rather than blames, staff.” The drivers’ union Aslef said the device would not have prevented the Croydon tragedy, but said trams needed the same standards of construction and automatic braking as trains.
The owner of Tram Operations, FirstGroup, said it was “profoundly sorry that such an incident could take place aboard a service we operate”. Tim O’Toole, its chief executive, said: “The RAIB concluded that management of fatigue was not a factor in the incident, nor did a speeding culture contribute to it.” He added that the company had nevertheless implemented measures including enhanced speed monitoring and renewed guidance on fatigue management. Finn Brennan, the union’s organiser on Tramlink, said: “Tram Operations Ltd should be dealing with the underlying causes of fatigue among staff and developing a fair culture that supports, rather than blames, staff.”
But solicitors representing victims of the crash said the firm’s failure to investigate previous complaints was “inexcusable”. Trevor Sterling, partner at Moore Blatch, said the RAIB report showed “a systemic failing within Tram Operations Limited, which meant an accident of this type was inevitable”. He added: “Had apparent issues been adequately addressed before and appropriate steps taken, this catastrophe could potentially have been avoided.” The owner of Tram Operations, FirstGroup, said it was “profoundly sorry that such an incident could take place aboard a service we operate”.
Tim O’Toole, the chief executive, said: “The RAIB concluded that management of fatigue was not a factor in the incident, nor did a speeding culture contribute to it.”
He said the company had nevertheless implemented measures, including enhanced speed monitoring and renewed guidance on fatigue management.
But solicitors representing victims of the crash said the firm’s failure to investigate previous complaints was “inexcusable”.
Trevor Sterling, a partner at Moore Blatch, said the RAIB report showed “a systemic failing within Tram Operations Limited, which meant an accident of this type was inevitable”.
“Had apparent issues been adequately addressed before and appropriate steps taken, this catastrophe could potentially have been avoided.”
The passengers who died in the crash were Dane Chinnery, 19; Philip Seary, 57; Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35; Philip Logan, 52; and Robert Huxley, 63, all from New Addington; and Mark Smith, 35, and Donald Collett, 62, from Croydon.
Apart from London, there are tram and light rail operations in Blackpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield, Tyne and Wear, and Edinburgh.