Health
and
safety
law
was
breached


when
a
tram
overturned
near
Croydon
in
2016
with
fatal
results,
a
judge
has
ruled.

The
accident
occurred
early
on
9
November
2016
on
a
sharp
curve.
The
tram
involved,
with
69
passengers
on
board,
had
been
travelling
at
three
times
the
permitted
speed.

Seven
passengers
were
killed
and
only
one
was
uninjured.

Tramway
owner
Transport
for
London
and
operator
Tram
Operations
Ltd,
a
subsidiary
of
FirstGroup,
have
been
fined
a
total
of
£14
million
at
the
Central
Criminal
Court.

Both
TfL
and
TOL
had
pleaded
guilty
to
failing
to
do
everything
that
was
reasonably
practicable
to
ensure
the
safety
of
passengers.
Neither
organisation
had
carried
out
‘a
suitable
or
sufficient
assessment
of
the
risks
of
a
high-speed
derailment’.
TfL
was
fined
£10
million
and
TOL
£4
million.

Since
then
new
safety
measures
have
been
introduced,
in
line
with
recommendations
from
the
Rail
Accident
Investigations
Branch.
The
Office
of
Rail
and
Road
had
also
considered
the
evidence.

New
systems
prevent
trams
overspeeding
around
curves,
while
there
have
also
been
improvements
in
making
sure
that
drivers
are
paying
proper
attention.
Speed
restrictions
are
also
indicated
by
new
trackside
signs
on
the
approach.

A
Light
Rail
Safety
and
Standards
Board
has
been
set
up,
with
the
intention
of
improving
tram
operators’
understanding
of
risk
and
setting
recognized
industry
standards.

Chief
inspector
of
railways
Ian
Prosser
said: ‘When
faced
with
the
evidence
of
their
failure
over
a
number
of
years,
both
TfL
and
TOL
accepted
that
they
had
not
done
everything
that
was
reasonably
practicable
to
ensure
the
safety
of
their
passengers,
with
terrible
consequences
on
the
early
morning
of
9
November
2016.

‘We
must
never
forget
the
tragedy
of
that
day,
and
must
strive
to
learn
all
of
its
lessons
so
there
can
be
no
repetition.
Our
thoughts
remain
with
those
whose
lives
were
so
affected.
The
judge’s
remarks
and
the
sentences
imposed
underline
to
the
corporate
defendants
and
the
whole
industry
that
their
first
responsibility
is
to
ensure
the
safety
of
their
passengers
and
staff.’