TRANSPORT bosses and Metrolink operators Serco have come under fire after a rush-hour tram carrying 200 passengers derailed because of inadequate track repairs.
Safety inspectors from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch have drawn up guidelines to ensure there is no repeat of last year's accident.
They said the current system of renewing track was not good enough. The packed early morning tram came off the rails on March 22 last year, while travelling at 15mph as it left Victoria Station on Long Millgate, heading for Manchester centre. It travelled 50 yards before stopping. Nobody was hurt.
Serco has operated and maintained the Metrolink system since 1997 but bus giant Stagecoach is expected to take over this summer.
A report by the RAIB reveals the accident was caused by a rail failure on a bend in the track.
A similar type of failure on curved sections of track caused two previous derailments in Manchester, it said.
These were at Shudehill in August 2004 and London Road in January 2005.
The RAIB team concluded that inadequate standards contributed to all of the derailments.
It recommended transport bosses GMPTE introduce a new system for measuring track wear and train staff to implement it. It said in future there should be a system for replacing tracks before they wear out. The report said the current lack of such a system contributed to the causes of the derailment by encouraging ad-hoc repairs.
Michael Renshaw, of GMPTE, said: "We take safety on Metrolink extremely seriously and we will make sure that all of the recommendations in the Rail Accident Investigation Branch report are put into action. We plan to spend £100m improving the Metrolink network, and work is taking place this summer to replace 20 miles of track on the Bury and Altrincham lines.
"We have also created new contracts to operate and maintain the system, and have selected Stagecoach as our preferred bidder for both contracts. We hope to be able to award the contracts in the next few weeks."
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Poor repairs caused tram crash
April 18, 2007
Showing comments 1 to 7 and replies | View All
Ace Riley (18/04/2007 at 10:43)
Roger Turning the Holme Valley Blue (18/04/2007 at 12:17)
Ace Riley (18/04/2007 at 14:31)
Alas yet another poor sole who beleives that the government tells us all the truth? "Read in todays MEN about the dead people who had parts removed without their family knowing about it??And you beleive the facts and figures issued by the governent heeheheeeh.
Roger Turning the Holme Valley Blue (18/04/2007 at 15:17)
J Sheldon (19/04/2007 at 00:04)
In train terms, safer signalling and more electronics.
I do not like rail accidents that involve poor to no maintenance, which seems to be the root cause.
This was a wake up call for GMPTE and Metrolink. It also needs something like a oyster card to be introduced. The ticket machines are slow. I could go on and compile a long list, but perhaps a trip by a GMPTE member with a pen and clip board would be useful.
Ace Riley (19/04/2007 at 08:53)
Roger Turning the Holme Valley Blue (19/04/2007 at 20:32)