Report 18/2006: Derailment at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Derailment of a tram at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, 6 July 2006
On Thursday 06 July a tram was traversing hand points at Blackpool Pleasure Beach at less than 4mph when it became derailed. There were no injuries and only minor marking to the switch tips and the surrounding concrete as a consequence of the incident.
The immediate cause of the derailment was the trailing wheelsets travelling onto the wrong line, after the leading wheelset had correctly travelled onto the normal route.
A causal factor was that the hand points mechanism had not been correctly returned to the normal position before the passage of the tram, and there were three contributory factors.
RAIB has made two recommendations to Blackpool Transport Services as a result of its investigation, covering procedures and training for the operation of handpoints.
Response to recommendations:
- RAIB will periodically update the status of recommendations as reported to us by the relevant safety authority or public body.
- RAIB may add comment, particularly if we have concerns regarding these responses.