Incident Croydon tram
Discussion
saaby93 said:
Says it was taking left hand bend with 12mph limit. Why 12? is it the metric equivalent of something?
The metric equivalent of 12 mph is 20 kph.From some of the comments on the local paper site ,it seems that the bend has recently been taken at
excess speed and from local knowledge it is quite a steep hill it has just come down.
truck71 said:
motco said:
I think it's lying on its right side and has slid across the opposing tracks.
I thought that at first but if you look at the doors and livery and compare to an upright photo it suggests the opposite? motco said:
Looking at the pictures I am surprised there were so many severe casualties/deaths. You might expect cuts and bruises but the injuries are very severe for such a slow 'train'. That bend is really very sharp and carries a (reported) 16mph limit, not surprisingly. Awful accident. 
people falling through the windows while the tram is still moving on its side...tram should have a 'dead man's handle' system, so a driver passing out/falling asleep should end in a stopped tram
Hugo a Gogo said:
tram should have a 'dead man's handle' system, so a driver passing out/falling asleep should end in a stopped tram
True.But this is also not the 1960's, why not have a couple of computers on board which know the max speed of each part of the track and apply brakes if tram is going too fast ? The computer in our TVs has the power to save the tram passengers in this situation, so why are they not fitted ? It's not very difficult, and I speak as somebody who has experience of embedded systems design.
jbswagger said:
Hugo a Gogo said:
tram should have a 'dead man's handle' system, so a driver passing out/falling asleep should end in a stopped tram
On another forum people have mentioned that trams don't have a dead mans handle.Edited by jbswagger on Wednesday 9th November 19:30
George111 said:
Hugo a Gogo said:
tram should have a 'dead man's handle' system, so a driver passing out/falling asleep should end in a stopped tram
True.But this is also not the 1960's, why not have a couple of computers on board which know the max speed of each part of the track and apply brakes if tram is going too fast ? The computer in our TVs has the power to save the tram passengers in this situation, so why are they not fitted ? It's not very difficult, and I speak as somebody who has experience of embedded systems design.
New ATO systems on the tube have what you are describing. TBTC systems and similar know where the train is to within a few cms and when driven manually are able to set a target speed for any given area which can be adjusted for weather, leaf fall, etc which, if exceeded, will bring the train to a halt.
Whether this sort of system can be fitted to a tram, I'm not sure. As trams mix with normal traffic and pedestrians I wouldn't be to sure if it could be made to work at all, although if you throw enough money and expertise at it - who knows?
RIP to all concerned.
Like most people in the area. Ive been on the trams hundreds of times. They do tend to rattle along at high speed at times on the stretch from Mitcham ish to Wimbledon.
Saying that they do derail relatively easily. Just don't tend to fall over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPxc2ICHupg
IIRC the woman was drunk (obviously) and had her family in the car.
Saying that they do derail relatively easily. Just don't tend to fall over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPxc2ICHupg
IIRC the woman was drunk (obviously) and had her family in the car.
don'tbesilly said:
truck71 said:
Charged with manslaughter would suggest something pretty fundamental regards the driver's actions.
Weird, I thought reports were that the driver had blacked out?Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff