Learning lessons from Croydon and Deansgate is vital for tram safety

Oldham Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes

Oldham Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has written to the Head of Metrolink to urge him to take on board the findings of reports into dangerous incidents involving trams in Croydon and at the Deansgate-Castlefield station to improve Metrolink safety. 

Although the Deansgate-Castlefield incident in May, 2019 did not lead to any deaths or injuries, accident investigators found it has some disturbing similarities to a terrible accident at the Sandilands Junction, Croydon in November, 2017 which saw a tram overturn and seven people tragically lose their lives.

Councillor Sykes, who represents Oldham on the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee and is also the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Transport in Greater Manchester, has previously asked local transport officials to review the lessons from the Sandilands accident and the recent publication of the report into the incident at Deansgate-Castlefield has made him doubly sure this is the right thing to do. 

Councillor Sykes said: “A terrible tram accident may have featured as a fictional story line on Coronation Street, but I am sure that none of us want to see the story line played out for real. 

"It is far better to take stock now than wait and risk an accident in the future that we should have prepared against now and avoided.”

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