Couple and child risk their lives on tram tracks

Family walking along Metrolink line at Westwood

A METROLINK tram had to be brought to a quick stop when a couple and a child were spotted walking along the tracks in Oldham.

A shocked passer-by — who does not wish to be named — took this picture of the man, woman and child on the track near to Westwood tram stop, away from the pedestrianised zone and heading in the direction of Manchester.

Speaking to the Evening Chronicle he said: “I was walking along Middleton Road and could not believe my eyes.

“At first I thought, that’s a bit dangerous but then they just carried on.

“They had a young girl with them, why would they do this?

“What I feel was most concerning about this is that it appeared to be a family. This was not just children messing around, this was two adults walking with a child, it’s so dangerous.

“It wasn’t long ago someone was knocked down and killed in Failsworth. It is sheer stupidity.”

His fears for their safety were realised when a Rochdale-bound tram came towards the group and was forced to come to a halt.

The man added: “The tram came around the corner and the driver had to stop while they got out of the way.”

A spokesperson for Metrolink said: “Trams run safely through pedestrian areas and alongside public footpaths right across the network every day.

“Our drivers are well trained to react to situations and appropriate speed restrictions are put in place in residential areas. Trams can stop much faster than trains and in a case such as this, the driver would have to slow down while he alerted people to move off the tracks.”

Metrolink operates in a different way to the heavy rail services that used to serve the Oldham loop line, in that boundary fencing along the tram route is rarely required.

The Oldham-Rochdale line Metrolink system operates on “line-of-sight” rather than the “block” signalling used by trains. This means tram drivers act much the same way as drivers use open road — they react according to what they see in front of them.

The spokesman added: “On sections of track like this we’d clearly advise people not to walk on the tram line for their own safety. At the very least this kind of behaviour could delay tram services.

“Metrolink has an excellent safety record but we need members of the public to play their part too.”

l Readers pictures are always welcome on any subject that captures life in Oldham.

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