Tram bell ‘not loud enough’ to alert pedestrian

Accident: Bus driver killed on Edinburgh crossing

A tram’s warning bell was “not loud enough” to alert a pedestrian who was killed at a crossing, an investigation has found.

Carlos Correa, 53, was struck and killed by a tram in Edinburgh as he crossed the tracks in the city’s Saughton area on September 11 last year.

The off-street crossing had no signs or pedestrian light signals and visibility between the driver and the approaching footpath was blocked at points by trees.

A Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) probe found bus driver Mr Correa walked on to the tracks when the tram was around 18 metres away, with CCTV indicating he did not look towards it in the last seconds before stepping on to the crossing.

Investigators found the tram driver sounded the warning bell three times after spotting Mr Correa.

The report states: “The investigation found that although the tram driver had used the tram’s bell to sound repeated warnings on the approach to the crossing, this audible warning was not sufficiently loud for it to be heard and acted upon by the pedestrian until it was too late.

“The risks associated with the crossing’s layout, mutual visibility, tram audibility, line speed and braking distance had not been adequately assessed.”

The RAIB recommended Edinburgh Trams Limited improves the audibility of its warning devices, which the firm said it has done.

It also recommended the company identifies risk factors associated with offstreet pedestrian crossings

“The family, who are still grieving, are shocked by a damning report”

and sets up a process to regularly review the risk control measures.

The RAIB also recommended the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board improves guidance on the audibility of tram warning devices and on the design and layout of tram footpath crossings.

In a statement on behalf of Mr Correa’s family, lawyer Jayne Crawford of Thompsons Solicitors said: “The family, who are still grieving their loss, are shocked by a damning report prepared by the RAIB identifying several areas of failings in respect of public safety.”

Edinburgh Trams managing director Lea Harrison said providing a safe tramway is “imperative”, adding: “We have worked closely with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, and prior to the publication of today’s report Edinburgh Trams installed a new louder horn system.

A Crown Office spokesman said: “The investigation, under the direction of the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit, is ongoing.”

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