A Metrolink the driver did not complete the final safety checks of the platform before moving the tram away from the tram stop when a woman was dragged along the platform at Shudehill,an accident investigation has concluded.
The investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch looked into the incident which occurred last May when passenger became trapped in the doors of a tram which was departing from Shudehill tram stop on the Manchester Metrolink system and dragged forty feet along the platform
The tram was heading towards Manchester Victoria on its journey to Bury. The passenger was dragged by the tram and fell onto the platform, sustaining injuries to their face and hand.
The passenger involved in the accident was walking along the tram stop platform with a companion when the tram arrived at Shudehill.
The passenger then used a contactless ‘touch-in’ device located on the platform, adjacent to a ticket vending machine. While the passenger was standing by the ‘touch-in’ device, the tram driver initiated the tram’s door closure sequence.
The evidence available to RAIB suggests that, after using the ‘touch-in’ device, the passenger moved towards the tram and started boarding as the tram doors started to close. The passenger stepped back onto the platform to avoid the closing doors, but their bag became trapped as the doors reached the fully closed position. The passenger’s hand was stuck in the strap of the bag, meaning that they were unable to free themselves from the doors.
The driver checked that the green ‘doors closed’ light in the cab had illuminated and started to drive the tram away from the tram stop. As the tram departed, the passenger was dragged for approximately 13 metres before extricating themselves from their bag and falling onto the platform. The driver was focused on a tram signal and on pedestrians and vehicles in the road area ahead. They were unaware of the accident until they were subsequently advised by their employer, Keolis Amey Metrolink (KAM), who operate trams on the Metrolink network.
