Driverand systemerror led to Manchesternear-miss
PAUL BICKERDYKE
THERailAccidentInvestigation Branch'rseportinto a near-miss on the ManchesteMr etrolink networkfoundit wascausedbya driverexperiencinga temporary lossof awareness.
Theincidenthappenedin the earlyeveningof May17,2019, whena tram passedthroughthe centreplatformof DeansgateCastlefieldwithout making itsscheduledstop,exitingthe platformat around9mph(14kph) and passinga stopsignal.
Thisplacedit in the path of a secondtramthat was
Doubt
Somedoubt remainsasto the reasonfor the firstdriver'slossof awarenessb,ut RAIBfoundthe samedriverhadbeeninvolvedin previous imilarincidentsandthat operatorKeolisAmeyMetrolink (KAM)hadnot adequately addressedthis.
RAIBalsofoundthe driver's safetydeviceon the tramdid not detector mitigatethe driver'sloss of awarenesbsecauseit wasnot designedto do so.
Thereportmadethree recommendationtso KAMt:o reviewandupdateitsstrategy for managingthe riskof trams passingsignalsat dangeror stop;to ensuremedicaflitness requirementfsor driversarebased on an understandingof the risks of their activitiesa; ndthat fatigue riskmanagemenst ystemsmeet relevantindustryguidanceand bestpractice.
THEDepartmentfor Transporthasgiven further supportto light rail systemsin England sufferingfrom lost revenue becauseof the effectsof coronaviruson passenger numbers.
Fivenetworksin the North and Midlandswill together receiveup to £37.4millionover 12weeks to the end of October.
Demand
The money is intended to helpoperatorsramp up servicesaheadof expectedhigherdemand when schoolsreopen afterthe holidayseasonin September.
It will be paidat a rateof up to £3.1ma week,with a reviewat the end of the period.
Thefive coveredby the announcementare ManchesterMetrolink, SheffieldSupertram, NottinghamExpress TransitW, estMidlands Metro,andTyne& Wear Metro.
All receivedfunding earlierin the pandemic, with the moneygoing directto the operators.
It is estimatedpassenger levelsin Augustarestill down around80%from normal.