Speeding Metrolink driver fired

SHARP bend . . . between Westwood and Freehold

A METROLINK driver was sacked after taking a corner at nearly three times the speed limit in Oldham ­- causing passengers to be hurled from their seats.

It's claimed the driver took the 10mph bend between the Westwood and Freehold stops at 28mph, making the tram sway to such a degree that three passengers suffered minor injuries.

The incident is reported to have taken place in the summer, months before the Croydon tragedy which claimed seven lives after a tram derailed at 43mph on a 12mph zone.

Incident

It came to light only after a passenger complained. The driver did not report it himself and was later sacked for gross misconduct.

The incident was not reported to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), nor was it brought to committee to be discussed by councillors. It is not believed the incident met official guidelines for it to be referred.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed a speeding incident took place and a driver was dismissed as a result. Although it's thought to have happened in June, neither TfGM or the network operator RATP Dev UK Ltd, which said they did not comment on individual incidents, would confirm a date.

An RATP Dev Ltd spokeswoman said the safety of passengers and employers were their highest priority.

She added: "In this instance, it was not reported to the RAIB as three passengers on board sustained very minor injuries and therefore it is not reportable under RAIB guidelines.

A Transport for Greater Manchester spokesman said: "In line with the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations, the operator ­- in Metrolink's case RATP Dev Ltd ­- is responsible for the safe running of the network.

"They monitor safety performance very closely and take action to intervene when required.

"As owner and manager of the network, we also monitor safety performance and challenge the operator where appropriate."

Peter Cushing, Transport for Greater Manchester's Metrolink Director, said: "Metrolink is one of the safest tram networks in Europe ­- this was an isolated incident.

"MRDL, who are responsible for the safe operation of the network, take incidents of this kind extremely seriously and investigate them thoroughly.

"This was an isolated staff-behaviour incident, not considered formally 'reportable',which was dealt with by MRDL at the time. On this basis, the matter was not escalated to TfGM.

"We are satisfied that the appropriate corrective action was taken by the operator in this instance.

"We will continue to apply a stringent approach to monitoring and challenging the operator's performance, which has contributed to Metrolink's exemplary safety record."