The United Kingdom’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch has made three recommendations to Nottingham Trams Limited in the wake of a June 12, 2023, tram derailment.
A southbound tram was traveling at around 25 mph when it approached a set of facing points in an unsafe condition at the north end of Bulwell tram stop in Nottingham, investigators said. As it traveled over the points, the tram’s first and second bogies were routed in different directions, and the tram derailed.
The first recommends reviewing control room policy and procedures to ensure that clear and practical guidance is available to manage the response to engineering faults. The second recommendation relates to improving risk assessments in light of this accident. The third recommendation concerns considering human factors when assessing the effects of a proposed engineering change.
RAIB has also identified a learning point to remind tram drivers not to make assumptions about the status of signals or indicators based on their previous experience.
