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Croydon tram crash: Safety concerns remain two years on | Croydon tram crash: Safety concerns remain two years on |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A memorial service has been held in south London to mark the second anniversary of the Croydon tram crash. | A memorial service has been held in south London to mark the second anniversary of the Croydon tram crash. |
Seven people died and another 62 were injured, 19 seriously, on 9 November 2016. | Seven people died and another 62 were injured, 19 seriously, on 9 November 2016. |
Two years on concerns have been raised by Croydon Central MP Sarah Jones that a new a safety body to regulate trams in the UK has still not been created "due to a delay" in government funding. | Two years on concerns have been raised by Croydon Central MP Sarah Jones that a new a safety body to regulate trams in the UK has still not been created "due to a delay" in government funding. |
The government said funding decisions would be made shortly. | |
A 174-page report into the crash by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch was published last December and made 15 recommendations to improve tram safety. | A 174-page report into the crash by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch was published last December and made 15 recommendations to improve tram safety. |
These included stronger windows and doors on trams, a better understanding of the risk of trams and the creation of a dedicated safety body for UK tramways. | |
In a letter to the transport secretary, Labour MP Ms Jones said the delays in bringing in a new UK-wide tram regulatory body were "unacceptable". | In a letter to the transport secretary, Labour MP Ms Jones said the delays in bringing in a new UK-wide tram regulatory body were "unacceptable". |
She said: "This week I learned that almost a year since the RAIB report into the crash, the first and most important recommendation, to create a new tram safety body, has still not been fully implemented due to the Government delaying the funding required to set up the body." | She said: "This week I learned that almost a year since the RAIB report into the crash, the first and most important recommendation, to create a new tram safety body, has still not been fully implemented due to the Government delaying the funding required to set up the body." |
A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman said "£250,000" had been provided to UK Tram, the umbrella body for the industry, to take forward an action plan. | |
He added: "While final decisions are being made on funding for the Light Rail Safety Board, we have also set up an industry-wide risk model to improve safety, which the tram operators are taking the lead on." | |
The tram that crashed was running from New Addington to Wimbledon via Croydon, and was on the approach to Sandilands tram stop shortly after 06:00 GMT when it derailed. | |
The RAIB report said that all the fatalities and many of the serious injuries were caused by passengers being thrown out of carriage windows. | The RAIB report said that all the fatalities and many of the serious injuries were caused by passengers being thrown out of carriage windows. |
One survivor, Christine Jess, said she was still "angry" at the operators after learning that not all the recommendations had been carried out. | |
She said: "From what I know there are things which have been done which should have been done before the tram was up and running. | She said: "From what I know there are things which have been done which should have been done before the tram was up and running. |
"It shouldn't have taken lives to be lost, or lives to be changed, in order to start looking at these things. | |
"Two years on and I'm still suffering, families are suffering. There's still a lot of things that still need to be done, and done quickly." | |
Eleven of the RAIB's recommendations were aimed at Transport for London (TfL) and Tram Operations Ltd. | Eleven of the RAIB's recommendations were aimed at Transport for London (TfL) and Tram Operations Ltd. |
TfL's Jonathan Fox said "significant progress" had been made in London and TFL had completed "some of the most vital" recommendations. | |
A criminal investigation is still being carried out by the British Transport Police (BTP) who arrested the driver on suspicion of manslaughter. | A criminal investigation is still being carried out by the British Transport Police (BTP) who arrested the driver on suspicion of manslaughter. |
The 44-year-old man, from Beckenham, has been released under investigation, a BTP spokesman said. | The 44-year-old man, from Beckenham, has been released under investigation, a BTP spokesman said. |
At the memorial service | At the memorial service |
By Tom Edwards, BBC London Transport Correspondent | By Tom Edwards, BBC London Transport Correspondent |
A grey, cold day, in New Addington and in this tight knit corner of south London at a memorial in front of the parade of shops they came to remember and pay their respects . | A grey, cold day, in New Addington and in this tight knit corner of south London at a memorial in front of the parade of shops they came to remember and pay their respects . |
Two years ago the crash destroyed families and those who were on-board have endured chronic pain and horrendous life changing injuries. | Two years ago the crash destroyed families and those who were on-board have endured chronic pain and horrendous life changing injuries. |
Some are still panicked by loud noises and the sound of the trams that intersect this part of London. | Some are still panicked by loud noises and the sound of the trams that intersect this part of London. |
They struggle to walk far or leave their homes. Some have lost jobs they loved. | They struggle to walk far or leave their homes. Some have lost jobs they loved. |
But, there is also still anger and frustration by a perceived lack of action. | But, there is also still anger and frustration by a perceived lack of action. |
A watchdog to oversee UK Trams seems years away. Two years on and people here in New Addington feel they do not have the answers they want. | A watchdog to oversee UK Trams seems years away. Two years on and people here in New Addington feel they do not have the answers they want. |
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