UK RAIB Press Release: Investigating tram derailment near Mitcham Junction, London, 29 December 2014
At about 23:55 hrs on Monday 29 December 2014, a tram travelling from New Addington to Wimbledon on the Croydon Tramlink system became derailed shortly after leaving the tram stop at Mitcham Junction, while travelling at about 11 km/h (7 mph). There were about 20 passengers, plus the driver, on board the tram, and no-one was hurt. There was some minor damage to the tram.
To the west of Mitcham Junction tram stop, the single tram line becomes two lines at a set of spring-operated points. On leaving the tram stop, the tram driver noticed that an indicator, which shows the position of these points, was indicating that the points were not correctly set. He stopped the tram before reaching the points, and after speaking to the tramway control room by radio, he left the tram and used an operating lever to manually move the points until he observed that the indicator was showing that they were correctly set. He then drove the tram slowly over the points, but the centre bogie and one wheelset of the trailing bogie became derailed.
Image showing derailed tram near Mitcham Junction
RAIB’s investigation will focus on the points mechanism and the way that it behaves in degraded operating conditions.
RAIB’s investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or the Office of Rail Regulation.
The UK RAIB will publish their findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of its investigation. This report will be available at http://www.raib.gov.uk.
