AN inquest into the deaths of seven people who were travelling on the tram which overturned on a sharp curve near Croydon almost four years ago has been postponed until next year because of the pandemic.

The accident on a junction at Sandilands occurred early on the morning of 9 November 2016, when an overspeeding tram overturned completely. Another 50 passengers were injured.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said the tram had been travelling at a ‘significantly higher speed than is permitted’ on the 20km/h curve, and Transport for London announced in June 2017 that its trams were to be equipped with a safety system which would monitor their speed and intervene if necessary.

The jury at the inquest was set to hear that a combination of human error and failings of the system were to blame.

Coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe said she hoped the inquest could be held in the spring of 2021 if the pandemic had eased by then.