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SMASH: A passer-by captures the scene on his camera.
SMASH: A passer-by captures the scene on his camera.

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Tram leaves tracks in lorry smash

Clarissa Satchell
19/10/2005

A TRAM was derailed and lost a wheel after it was in a collision with a lorry in the city centre.

The lorry driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment, but the tram driver and all passengers escaped unhurt.

The lorry is believed to have crashed into the side of the Metrolink tram at the junction of Corporation Street and Balloon Street as the tram approached Victoria station.

Passers-by near the Co-op Bank looked on in amazement as the force of the crash derailed the tram and one of the wheels fell off.

There was substantial damage to the front of the tram and it will have to be taken out of service for repairs, adding to a shortage of trams on the system.

Investigation

Cheryl Hubbard, spokeswoman for Metrolink, said: "The force of the crash must have been substantial in order to derail the tram and so it's very fortunate that the driver and none of the passengers was injured.

"An investigation is under way into why the accident happened but we understand the signals were working correctly at the time.

"Fortunately, the Co-op Bank has CCTV cameras all along that stretch. We will be studying them to find out exactly what happened."

All trams between Eccles and Victoria, Eccles and Piccadilly and Altrincham and Piccadilly were stopped as Metrolink staff worked to move the tram back on to the rails and move it away from the tracks.

Are you happy with the safety levels on our trams? Have your say.

*Photo: Nigel Blackledge.


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(8)


Most recent 2 of 8 user comments

   yet again all the facts are not reported and the truth distorted. It has been proven the truck went through a red light and hit the front of the tram pushing it off the rails. Why do little minded people of manchester have to put their very old and boring political comments on something that has no relivance what so ever.
Metro Man, Manchester
21/10/2005 at 15:39

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   In response to the socialist moron Patrick Sudlow's comments about Margaret Thatcher. He has obviously been oblivious to the fact that even during the Thathcer era Manchester was mismanaged by Labour. They and they alone are responsible for everything that is done in Manchester and any blame is their responsibility. When will these left wing mental cripples realise that Socialism in any form does not and never has worked. Even now Blair is a right winger in the disguise of a "working man" character and onec agin the lowbrows in manchester have fallen for it.
Colin W, Manchester
21/10/2005 at 07:59

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