The RAIB have released a Safety Digest into a recent door trap incident on Manchester Metrolink at Shudehill tramstop which saw a passenger dragged for approximately 13 metres after their bag got trapped in the tram doors. Not requiring a full report, the incident has led the RAIB to reiterate their previous message of the importance of tram and train drivers to undertake final checks before departing from stops.
This accident happened at Shudehill on 27th May 2022 at 1117. The investigation by the RAIB suggests that the passenger had used the contactless touch-in device on the platform just as the tram was pulling in and as he was still by the device the driver of the tram started the process of closing the doors. The passenger is then said to have attempted to board the tram but as the doors were closing he stepped back from boarding but their bag was then trapped as the doors closed. His hand was stuck in the strap of the bag which meant they were unable to free themselves as the tram started to depart.
The passenger was then dragged for approximately 13 metres before they managed to release themselves from the bag and fell onto the platform, sustaining injuries to their face and hands.
The driver of the tram was concentrating on the signals and other road traffic ahead as the tram was departing the stop for Bury and was unaware of the door trapping incident until he was informed by the control room.
The RAIB investigation states that the accident happened because the driver didn’t complete their final checks of the platform before starting to move the tram off. This meant that they were unaware the passenger was in an unsafe position when they made the decision that it was safe to depart. According to the KAM Driver’s Rule Book three checks of a tramstop are required before a tram departs. The first check should happen before the doors are set to close then once the doors are closed they should undertake a second check using the CCTV system and should then turn the selector switch to the drive position. A third safety check should then take place using the CCTV system to ensure nothing is trapped in the doors and only then should the tram depart.
The driver confirmed in the investigation that they undertook the first check but was under the impression that the doors closed indicator in the cab meant nothing was trapped in the doors and could depart safely. However, anything less than 30mm side would not register – such as the strap of the door – and so further checks should be undertaken.
There have been previous similar incidents on UK tramways and after a pushchair was dragged by a tram on Nottingham Express Transit in December 2017 an urgent safety advice was issued to all UK tramways. This saw Keolis Amey Metrolink issue a safety briefing to their drivers in February 2018 and following another incident on Metrolink a further briefing was issued in May and June 2018. This reiterated the need not to reply on the doors closed indicator but during the investigation the driver, who had received these briefings, stated they were unaware that thin objects could still be trapped in the doors without the indicator stating so.
As a result of this latest incident the RAIB have reiterated:
- The importance of a final visual safety check to provide confirmation nothing is trapped in the doors and its safe to depart
- The need for operators to implement appropriate assurance processes to verify that safety briefings have been correctly understood and are being acted upon
The full safety digest can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-digest-042022-shudehill/passenger-trapped-by-tram-doors-and-dragged-at-shudehill-tram-stop-manchester-27-may-2022