Croydon tram crash driver 'lost awareness' before fatal accident

Investigators probing the fatal Croydon tram crash have said the driver "lost awareness" before the accident.

The tram - which was travelling from New Addington to Wimbledon - derailed on 9 November last year killing seven people and injuring another 51.

A report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) says: "The late application of the brakes, and the absence of emergency braking, suggests that the driver had lost awareness that he was approaching the tight, left-hand curve".

On board data shows that the driver only began applying his break two-and-a-half seconds before he reached the speed limit sign at Sandilands Junction, decreasing the speed of the tram by only three miles per hour by the time it passed the sign.

Instigators also said that the only sign on the sharp bend was positioned 90-120m after the point at which drivers would need to start braking to reduce speed.

There was no sign to tell drivers when to apply the brake, but the report notes that "they were expected to know this from their knowledge of the route."

Heavy rain on the morning of the crash is also likely to have reduced the "readability" of the sign.

After overturning, the tram, which was carrying 60 passengers, slid for 25 meters on its side before coming to a halt.

Of the seven passengers who died, one was found inside the tram, two were found partially inside the tram, three were found underneath the tram, and another was found on the track close to the tram.

The interim report also said the tram was travelling faster than initially thought, entering a sharp bend at 46mph (73km/h) - nearly four times the speed limit of 13mph (20km/h).

Another case of speeding had taken place in the same area 10 days before the crash and is now also being investigated by the RAIB.

Investigators were also looking into whether lives could have been saved if the tram had been fitted with shatterproof safety glass, which is a requirement on all passenger trains.

Additional speed restrictions and signage have been introduced following the accident.

The tram's driver, Alfred Dorris, 42, was arrested at the scene and was questioned on suspicion of manslaughter.

Mr Dorris from Beckenham, south London, has been bailed until May.

A full accident report is expected to be published later this year.