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London tram travelling at over three times speed limit kills seven: report

Xinhua, November 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

A London tram was travelling at 70 km/h when it derailed and overturned on a bend with a speed limit of 20 km/h, killing seven passengers, an interim report revealed Wednesday.

The official Rail Accident Investigation Branch's (RAIB) is continuing an investigation into the tragedy which happened just after 6 a.m. local time on November 9 when a tram bound for Wimbledon overturned on a curve as it approached Sandilands Junction in Croydon.

The seven people killed in the crash were six men and one woman, aged between 19 and 63. The 42-year-old driver of the tram was arrested on suspicion of causing death by manslaughter and is currently on police bail.

In the report, RAIB said the tram travelled for a short distance on its side before stopping in the vicinity of the junction.

As well as the seven fatalities, a further 51 people were taken to hospital, with eight suffering injuries described by the London Ambulance Service as "serious or life-threatening". Including the driver, there were 60 people aboard the early morning tram.

According to the RAIB report, Tram 2551 left New Addington at 05:55 a.m., calling at six stops, reaching permitted speeds of up to 80 km/h. It entered the curve on the approach to Sandilands Junction at a speed of approximately 70 km/h. As it encountered the curve, it derailed and turned over onto its right side, travelling for approximately 25 metres before it stopped.

The RAIB said at this stage, no evidence has been found of any track defects, or obstructions on the track, that could have contributed to the derailment. Detailed examination of the tram has not yet been possible, but initial investigation has not indicated any malfunction of the tram's braking system.

RAIB has issued urgent safety advice to the tram operators following the tragedy. The investigators said before the junction re-opens to passenger operation, the RAIB has advised London Trams and Tram Operations Ltd to take measures to reduce the risk of trams approaching the junction where the tragedy occurred at an excessive speed.

The train drivers' trade union ASLEF responded to the interim report. ASLEF organiser Finn Brennan: "It is clear that the lack of adequate safety systems were at the root of this dreadful accident."

The fatalities are the first to involve a tram in Britain since the 1950s. Enditem