The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) says it is prosecuting Transport for London, Tram Operations Limited and tram driver Alfred Dorris, following what it describes as a detailed and thorough investigation into the fatal Sandilands tram derailment in Croydon in November 2016.
The crash killed seven people.
ORR’s prosecution is for breaches of health and safety law.
Transport for London (TfL) is alleged by ORR to have failed to ensure the health and safety of passengers on the Croydon Tramlink network, so far as reasonably practicable.
Tram Operations Limited, which runs the tram service on TfL’s behalf, is also alleged to have failed to ensure the health and safety of passengers on the network, so far as reasonably practicable.
Driver Alfred Dorris has been accused of an alleged failure as an employee to take reasonable care of passengers whilst employed at work driving the tram.
A hearing will take place at Croydon Magistrates’ Court, with a date to be set shortly.
ORR’s HM Chief Inspector of Railways Ian Prosser CBE said: “My thoughts are with the families of the seven people who lost their lives on 9 November 2016, the many more injured and everyone whose lives have been impacted as a result of this incident.
“Following a detailed and thorough investigation, we’ve taken the decision to prosecute Transport for London, Tram Operations Limited and driver Alfred Dorris for what we believe to be health and safety failings.
“We’ve made a fair, independent and objective assessment about what happened, and it is now for the court to consider if any health and safety law has been breached.”
