A coroner’s inquest into a fatal tram derailment near Croydon in 2016 which resulted in the deaths of seven passengers has concluded with a verdict of accidental death.
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The tram derailed at Sandilands junction where it entered a sharp bend at excessive speed, which Rail Accident Investigation Branch chief inspector Simon French told the inquest jury was “absolutely” the cause of the incident.
The jury heard the driver may have fallen into a ‘microsleep’ which caused a loss of awareness of his surroundings and resulted in a failure to brake in time before the bend.
Controversially the coroner decided not to hear witness evidence from tram operator TOL or Transport for London; a decision which families of the deceased say “suffocated” justice.
Lead solicitor for five of the seven bereaved families, Ben Posford of Osbornes Law, said the families of those who died are “understandably angry and upset” at the conclusion and “feel that nobody has been held accountable for the tragic events almost five years ago”.
He added: “We will be pursuing the legal options open to us by calling on the Attorney General to apply to the High Court for a new inquest. The families will also be considering judicial review proceedings against the coroner, to get the answers they deserve.”
Recommendations from an RAIB report into the incident published in 2017 have led to a number of safety improvements being introduced to trams, including an automatic braking system that brings the vehicles to a controlled stop if they exceed the speed limits at designated locations. In cab driver protection devices have also been fitted to protect against fatigue and distraction.
Transport for London’s commissioner Andy Byford said: “We will never forget the seven people who lost their lives in the Sandilands tragedy. We have supported the inquests and coroner throughout the process in every way we could and Mark Davis, our trams general manager, was in attendance throughout.
“Safety will always be our number one priority, and we continue to review our operation and to work with the wider tram industry to introduce any further measures that may benefit the people who rely on our services.”
Also commenting on the inquest verdict, London Assembly Transport Committee chair Caroline Pidgeon said: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the people who died in this terrible incident. They now have answers, but they will also want assurances that no one else will have to go through the pain they have suffered.
“Transport for London and tram operators need to ensure that lessons are learned, and take urgent steps to prevent such a dreadful tragedy from ever happening again. The people of Bromley, Croydon and Merton need to be reassured that their tram is a safe way to travel.”
(Photograph: Rail Accident Investigation Branch)
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