London Tramlink has been the location for the latest car versus tram incident with a Mini running into the side of a tram on Tuesday 27th October. The collision took place on Lower Addiscombe Road just before 2100 and saw four people taken to hospital.
Eyewitness reports suggested that the car drove into the side of the tram – distinctive Love Croydon liveried Stadler 2554 – with the two occupants of the car and two passengers on the tram requiring attention at hospital. The driver of the Mini – a 25 year old male – was later arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.
2554 suffered some damage and at the time of writing remains stored in the depot yard with a bogie flap removed awaiting further attention. This means that two of the original Stadler fleet are now out of service (2556 remains in Germany undergoing repairs) and with the first three of the second batch still being commissioned it leaves Tramlink a little light on trams. This issue is likely to be exacerbated from Monday 2nd November when the line reopens into Wimbledon station following the completion of the remodelling which will enable two trams to be in situ at the same time.