Safety warning in Manchester over tram surfing incidents

“Tram surfing” – where people hang on the back of trams or in some cases on the couplers between two trams – is an activity which has been popular with youths across the UK for a long time. But after a high profile spate of incidents in Manchester – and covered in the Manchester Evening News – an urgent safety warning has been issued about how dangerous this can be.

Control room staff and Customer Service Representatives have been told to be on the lookout for incidents such as this whilst members of the public are being urged to report to Metrolink if this witness this happening. The results of tram surfing can be catastrophic if the individual concerned slips or there is a sudden stop of the tram and this message is being sent out as a major youth engagement programme (which is also aiming to educate youths on the dangers of stone throwing and other antisocial activities recently witnessed).

Greater Manchester Police have warned that they will prosecute anyone caught tram surfing.

Danny Vaughan, TfGM Head of Metrolink, said: “All it takes is for a slight slip or a jolt from the tram for this to have a catastrophic ending. The last thing we or anyone else wants is for someone to get killed; for someone’s child not to go home because of something like this, yet that is exactly what will happen if people do not stop engaging in such reckless behaviour. If anyone sees anyone behaving like this I’d encourage them to contact the police immediately or speak to Metrolink staff via any of the call points on our trams or at stops.”

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2 Responses to Safety warning in Manchester over tram surfing incidents

  1. Nigel Pennick says:

    Perhaps the description ‘tram surfing’ should not be used to describe this risky behaviour. It makes it sound like harmless fun and thoughtlessly calling it ‘surfing’ trivializes the real danger these illegal riders pose to themselves, innocent bystanders and those who have to pick up the pieces.

  2. John1 says:

    Maybe they should show the photos of the Geram incident where there wasn’t much left of the poor guy who got between two Trams.

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