Tram leaves tracks in lorry smash

Clarissa Satchell

October 19, 2005

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SMASH: A passer-by captures the scene on his camera.

A TRAM was derailed and lost a wheel after it was in a collision with a lorry in the city centre.

The lorry driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment, but the tram driver and all passengers escaped unhurt.

The lorry is believed to have crashed into the side of the Metrolink tram at the junction of Corporation Street and Balloon Street as the tram approached Victoria station.

Passers-by near the Co-op Bank looked on in amazement as the force of the crash derailed the tram and one of the wheels fell off.

There was substantial damage to the front of the tram and it will have to be taken out of service for repairs, adding to a shortage of trams on the system.

Investigation

Cheryl Hubbard, spokeswoman for Metrolink, said: "The force of the crash must have been substantial in order to derail the tram and so it's very fortunate that the driver and none of the passengers was injured.

"An investigation is under way into why the accident happened but we understand the signals were working correctly at the time.

"Fortunately, the Co-op Bank has CCTV cameras all along that stretch. We will be studying them to find out exactly what happened."

All trams between Eccles and Victoria, Eccles and Piccadilly and Altrincham and Piccadilly were stopped as Metrolink staff worked to move the tram back on to the rails and move it away from the tracks.

Are you happy with the safety levels on our trams? Have your say.

*Photo: Nigel Blackledge.

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Showing comments 1 to 8 and replies | View All

manchester, manchester (19/10/2005 at 15:30)

Just to set the record straight, the wheel of the tram did not come off! Surely, if the reporter does not understand what had actually happened she should ascertain the facts before reporting such sensational nonsense.

Ron Traps, Manchester (19/10/2005 at 15:34)

Its a good job this didnt happen at rush hour (5pm) as surely someone would have got hurt due to the sheer numbers of people that would have been on the tram. I fail to understand why double units are not used during rush hour.

Bernie, Manchester (19/10/2005 at 15:43)

When I passed the tram all the wheels looked there to me! Are our trams safe, what a question to ask people? Sensationalism come on get the facts right Clarissa.

Patrick Sudlow, Hulme (19/10/2005 at 17:53)

This once again shows what a nonounce the tram system is. What should of happened, was for a railway loop to be built connecting Victoria and Piccadilly, and kept the trains on the Altrincham and Bury. Any traffic problems just cause the whole tram system and the highways to grind to a halt. What happened to aproper integrated transport system. The railway companys should be forced to lay on more trains on the under used sections of track to get traffic of the roads.
Not convert railway track to tram which is fragmenting our already fragmented rail system. This council is only trying to finish off what margrate thatcher started. The end of the railways.

Simon Diamond, Manchester (20/10/2005 at 20:51)

Regarding the question whether trams are safe or not:
How many accidents have there been in total on the tram system?? Not many. How many car accidents a day. What are suggesting Clarissa we ditch trams and all drive??
I personally cant stand driving through Manchester city centre and find the trams a fast and safe way to get home after a long day or night. Its comments like this that got the Concorde decommisioned.......

Colin W, Manchester (21/10/2005 at 07:55)

Was the lorry driver trying to jump the lights. Ive seen this many times, especially white vans, trying to go over the crossings near picadilly station!

Colin W, Manchester (21/10/2005 at 07:59)

In response to the socialist moron Patrick Sudlow's comments about Margaret Thatcher. He has obviously been oblivious to the fact that even during the Thathcer era Manchester was mismanaged by Labour. They and they alone are responsible for everything that is done in Manchester and any blame is their responsibility. When will these left wing mental cripples realise that Socialism in any form does not and never has worked. Even now Blair is a right winger in the disguise of a "working man" character and onec agin the lowbrows in manchester have fallen for it.

Metro Man, Manchester (21/10/2005 at 15:39)

yet again all the facts are not reported and the truth distorted.
It has been proven the truck went through a red light and hit the front of the tram pushing it off the rails.
Why do little minded people of manchester have to put their very old and boring political comments on something that has no relivance what so ever.

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