ASLEF suspends action on Croydon Tramlink


Train drivers’ union ASLEF last month suspended strike action on Croydon Tramlink after the Tram Operations Ltd company agreed to carry out an independent review of a safety device in cabs. 


The union had called the action in protest at the equipment which, it said, had caused “numerous health and safety concerns”. ASLEF says the device shines infra-red beams into drivers’ faces, prompting complaints about headaches and dry eyes as well as blurred vision and concerns about potentially serious eye damage. 


The equipment was installed at Croydon’s Sandilands Junction following the fatal tram crash in November 2016 in which seven died and 51 were injured. However, the union says it wants a modern automatic tram protection system installed that would stop a vehicle if it was speeding or if the driver became incapacitated. 


“This system does neither,” said ASLEF Tramlink organiser Finn Brennan. “Instead of making the tram network safer it puts the health of drivers at risk and does nothing to prevent accidents in the future. 


“Only an automatic tram protection system could have prevented an accident like the tragedy at Sandilands.”

www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/news/croydon-news/tram-driver-strike-monday-suspended-741659