Manchester Metrolink Derailment

BBC news item below:


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7480690.stm

Manchester Evening news claims there were 'up to 300' people aboard the single vehicle"

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1056061_more_tram_chaos_expected

Charlie

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Metrolink services are returning to normal in Manchester after a tram derailed in the city centre.

A city-bound late-night shuttle service tram came off the tracks at the junction of Moseley Street and Princess Street on Sunday.

One person was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Services are running as normal between Altrincham and G-Mex, and between Bury and Piccadilly. Services to Eccles have also resumed but there are some delays.

Moseley Street was closed to traffic and part of Princess Street was shut earlier while a crane was brought in to remove the tram.

Music fans

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is staging an inquiry and has carried out investigations at the scene.

Philip Purdy, from Metrolink, said: "Besides the damage to the vehicle and trying to get the vehicle back on the tracks, you can obviously see there's been some damage to the overhead cable.

"The biggest issue is trying to get the overhead wire back in place so we can run future services."

A Metrolink spokesman said they did not have an exact figure for the number of people on board, but said there were "quite a few".

Services do not normally run late on a Sunday, but the tram was part of a special shuttle service to transport those attending a Radiohead concert at Old Trafford cricket ground.

An eyewitness, who was standing in St Peter's Square when the crash happened, said: "The tram had just left the stop and was full of Radiohead fans returning from Old Trafford.

"The rear carriage left the rails, travelling about 20m (66ft) close to the tracks, then another 20m (66ft) or so after hitting the kerb.

"The only thing that stopped the tram going sideways was the kerb. It knocked over a power cable support before stopping.

"There was clearly nothing the driver could do."
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