Event    From 9/11/2016  To 9/11/2016

Croydon tram derailment

Categories: Tragedy, Transport

The tram carrying 69 passengers, had left New Addington bound for Wimbledon. At 6.07 a.m. as it approached Sandilands station on a sharp bend, it overturned on its right side. Seven passengers were killed, and of the others, most suffered varying degrees of injury.

At a subsequent enquiry it was estimated that the tram had been travelling at about 45 mph, when the speed limit on the bend was 12 mph. The driver was blamed for the accident, although it was believed that he was asleep at the time. Further investigations revealed more reports of drivers falling asleep. The erratic shift patterns of drivers were called into question, with one driver saying that 'Nobody is ever fully awake'.

20 July 2021: The inquest into the crash focussed on the actions of the driver, who survived the crash, but returned the verdict that the seven deaths were accidental.

24 March 2022: From MyLondon: "This morning (Thursday, March 24) the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said it will prosecute Transport for London, driver Alfred Dorris, and Trams Operations Limited for alleged "breaches of health and safety law"."

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Croydon tram derailment

Commemorated ati

Croydon Tram Derailment - New Addington

In memory of the seven people who lost their lives and those affected by the ...

Read More

Croydon Tram Derailment - Sandilands

In memory of those who lost their lives on 9 November 2016. Dane Chinnery Don...

Read More

Other Subjects

Kehat Shorr

Kehat Shorr

Shooting coach. Born in Romania. An expert marksman, he moved to Israel in 1963, training many young marksmen. He also trained the national team for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where along wi...

Person, Sport / Games, Tragedy, Germany, Israel/Palestine, Romania

1 memorial
Joshua Kevin Deegan

Joshua Kevin Deegan

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Crash of the R101 airship

Crash of the R101 airship

In the 1920s the British government was hoping airships would provide a means of transport to the far-flung Empire. Two vehicles were being trialled: the R100 and the R101. On its first overseas fl...

Event, Tragedy

1 memorial
Marco Lam
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Irvine Gray

Irvine Gray

Founder member of the Amwell Society.

Person, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
John Lennon

John Lennon

Musician and songwriter. Born Liverpool.  One of the four Beatles. Shot dead in the steet in New York City by Mark Chapman. One of the few people commemorated with more than one English Heritage-m...

Person, Music / songs, Seriously Famous

6 memorials
Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela

Anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and International elder statesman.  Born in a village near Umtata in the Transkei, South Africa.  Gaoled 5th August 1962, sentenced to life imprisonment 12...

Person, Peace, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Seriously Famous, South Africa

5 memorials
Dorothy Nevill

Dorothy Nevill

W1, Charles Street, 45

City of Westminster Lady Dorothy Nevill, 1826 - 1913, horticulturist, collector, writer and hostess, lived here, 1873 - 1913.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
E. H. Baily

E. H. Baily

From Bristol. Born Edward Hodges Baily. Other work in London: the Pallas Athenae at the entrance to the Athenaeum in Waterloo Place.

Person, Sculpture

4 memorials