R.o.B News archive
Croydon tramlink
Derailment: At 10.37 on Friday 21st October 2005, tram 2530 travelling eastbound to Elmers End ex Wimbledon de-railed at an as yet un determined speed The speed limit at this location over the points was 40kph. Fortunatley no one was injured even though the tram was in service.
The incident took place on facing points at Phipps Bridge though the cause is as yet unknown though the rail crash investigation team, who are in their first week of operation were called in to investigate, this is thee third investigation this week with one at a railway depot and a freight de railment earlier in the week. They seized the tram recorder (black box) and CCTV and I believe they also interviewed the driver. The operating company Tram Operations Limited will also carry out its own investigations.
The London underground emergency response team were called to assist in the re railing of 2530 and upon my leaving the scene at about 16.30 the tram was chained up ready to be hauled back on to the track. It had landed in the area between the 2 running lines (6 foot).
Some minor repairs to the track were also neccesary but of course the tram had to be taken to the depot for investigation first. The on call duty manager at the start of the incident was called for and dispatched from the depot to maintain the sterility of the scene by cordoning it off while controllers and drivers very swiftly and with plenty of proffesionalism got the service operating as much as possible between Elmers End and Mitcham Junction and later to Phipps Bridge. I contacted the depot later that evening to see if I could get to work along the Wimbledon line the next day and was assured the line would be open less than 24 hrs after the incident!!!!
