Tram derailed in Croydon

[Hiney]

'Some loss of life' being reported after a Tram derailed early this morning.

Horrendous.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-37919658

 

[alfredmizen]

'Some loss of life' being reported after a Tram derailed early this morning.

Horrendous.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-37919658

It overturned not just derailed , terrible.

 

[Springal]

I saw that earlier and wondered how that can even happen ?!

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I saw that earlier and wondered how that can even happen ?!

Very sad news. I used to take the tram from East Croydon to Beckenham every day on my last contract. Most of the line is flat, but just after Sandilands tram stop the track dips and banks sharply to the left. What with the torrential rain i wouldn't be surprised if there was some kind of subsidence at that point that caused the tram to derail and overturn. Such a safe way to travel normally, just makes it all the more tragic.

 

[SeafordBHA]

Hear they've arrested the driver? That's not normal practice unless they have some evidence is it?

 

[Del Fenner]

The tram was coming into Sandilands, not leaving it. That service comes out of the tunnel from New Addington via Lloyd Park, usually at high speed, then slows down very quickly to take the turn left into the Sandilands stop. It wouldn't take much to overcook it into the bend. Looking at the aerial photos, the overhead power cable posts were hit very hard judging by the angle that they are leaning at.

 

[clippedgull]

Sky News reporting five dead, people still trapped

 

[studio150]

Sadly now confirmed 5 have died in the accident

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Blimey - when I worked in Bromley I used to take that service every day to catch the train at Beckenham.

 

[Del Fenner]

Blimey - when I worked in Bromley I used to take that service every day to catch the train at Beckenham.

That service doesn't go to Beckenham, it's the New Addington service on the return journey.

 

[Keith Patel]

How awful, hope everyone else gets out ok.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

That service doesn't go to Beckenham, it's the New Addington service on the return journey.

Ok, I stand corrected. Isn't it that junction where the 2 services converge / split though?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Beggars belief. Such unbelievable carnage is about as likely as it would be on the Volks Railway. Up til now, the worst that ever happened on the Tramlink to my knowledge as a user of many years experience was a car taking a wrong turning and straying onto the tracks, or somebody somehow managing to be hit by a tram. This is unreal.

 

[Del Fenner]

Ok, I stand corrected. Isn't it that junction where the 2 services converge / split though?

Yes it is. Looking from Sandilands the Beckenham Junction service turns left and the New Addington service turns right.

 

[DavidRyder]

Appalling. Wishing everyone affected up there the very best.

 

[narly101]

I am at a loss as to how this could have happened - on all my travels on that tram, I really would never have thought it could travel at speeds to cause such a horrendous crash.

Thoughts out to all those affected.

 

[BNthree]

What a horrific thing to happen. Thoughts with those affected.

 

[Hillian1]

Sincerely hope none of our Nigels are caught up in this.

Guy in our office has been on the phone all morning trying to contact his brother who, he thinks, goes that way to work.

 

[Ernest]

Hear they've arrested the driver? That's not normal practice unless they have some evidence is it?

The driver would be mediscreened as a matter of procedure after any incident

 

[W.C.]

jesus, a tram is the last form of transport I'd have thought an accident like this could happen to. Tragic.