Investigators are still trying to
establish the causes of this week’s tram derailment in Croydon to the south of
London, which killed 7 people and injured more than 50 others. Trams are
generally a very safe form of transport but this accident has led to calls for
improved safety measures such as automatic braking systems of the kind used on
trains.
Probably the deadliest tram
accident in history happened on the foggy morning of 12 July 1930 in Buenos
Aires. Service 105 was on its way from the city of Lanus, south of Buenos
Aires, to the Constitución station in the Argentinian capital. The driver had been
with the tram company for only about two months.
On its journey the vehicle had to
cross a bridge over the Riachuelo river. As it approached, the bridge had been
lifted to allow a vessel to pass beneath, but the driver did not see the red
light warning him not to proceed.
By the time the driver realised the
bridge was up, it was too late. He tried to apply the brake, but the tram
plunged into the water. The driver was one of the 56 people who lost their
lives. Only 7 survived.
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