Rail Accident Report: Runaway incidents on Blackpool Transport Services Tramway, 21 November, 3 and 10 December 2005

"This report covers three separate incidents. They were all associated with an abnormal method of operating the tramway. The tram operating company usually schedules track repairs and renewals to take place during the winter months. This involves closure of one of the two lines of this double track tramway, and trams in both directions have to use the other line. During late 2005, track renewals meant that single line working was taking place between Gynn Square and Talbot Square, over a distance of about one mile, and it was necessary for southbound trams to change direction twice at each end of this section to reach the opposite track

The first incident occurred on Monday 21 November 2005 at Talbot Square. Tram 644, travelling south, was leaving the single line section. The tram carried out the manoeuvres required, and following the second change of direction, the driver had just started the tram when the controller handle became detached. The driver was unable to replace the handle, and so he attempted to apply the emergency brake (activated by a button in the cab). The emergency brake failed to act and the tram, which was not under power, continued to roll down a gradient of about 1 in 100 along the promenade as far as the Old Lifeboat House (about 600 metres), where the gradient levelled out and it came to a stop.

The second incident was on Saturday 3 December 2005 at Gynn Square. The driver of tram 646, travelling south, left his cab to change ends for the reversal at the start of single line working. As he was walking through the tram it began to move and struck the barrier protecting the track repair works after rolling 5 metres. The driver then applied the emergency brake and the tram stopped.

The third incident occurred on 10 December, also at Gynn Square, and again involved tram 646. After completion of the reversing manoeuvre, the driver moved the tram forward a short distance, some 10 metres, and then attempted to stop to allow a member of staff to alight. The tram did not respond to a service brake application, so the driver applied the emergency brake and the tram stopped after moving about 27 metres past the point where the driver had intended to stop."

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