‘Tram-surfers’ run the risk of death or serious injury

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‘Tram-surfers’ continue to run the very real risk of death or serious injury, according to the latest warning by transport bosses.

As incidents of this reckless behaviour are continuing to take place across the network, Transport for Greater Manchester and operator KeolisAmey Metrolink have released video footage to help drive home the potentially fatal consequences.

The footage shows two people sitting on a coupling unit, which holds two trams together, before riding the vehicle as it travels along the Altrincham line.

Since June, there have been 63 recorded incidents of ‘tram-surfing’ across Greater Manchester with many involving children, who in some cases could be as young as 11 years old.

The TravelSafe Partnership, which is a partnership made up of Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Police, bus operators and the Metrolink operator KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM), already runs a number of initiatives aimed at arresting the trend. These include targeted youth intervention work such as school visits, Crucial Crew events and parental interventions as well as staff briefings, increased enforcement of byelaws and physical security measures.

However, Transport for Greater Manchester’s Head of Metrolink Danny Vaughan is also asking for the public to be vigilant and report this type of incident.

He said: “Tram-surfing is extremely dangerous and ultimately can be fatal.

“If either of those people in the footage had slipped while the tram was in motion, then they would almost certainly have been killed.

“As a parent that terrifies me so we’re asking the public to help us put a stop to this by reporting any incidents they see, either by contacting the police immediately or speaking to Metrolink staff via any of the call points on our trams or at stops.

“I’d also ask parents to ensure that they know what their child is up to and maybe talk to them about the dangers and consequences of such behaviour.

“The last thing anybody wants is for someone’s child not to go home because of something like this, but that is what will happen if it continues.”

Carole Mason, Health and Safety Manager at operator KeolisAmey Metrolink, said: “About 15 years ago, I went out as an incident officer when a young lad had fallen off a coupling. I remember that he had a serious head injury and that has always stayed with me.

“If you see someone tram surfing, please don’t just film it and post it to social media – contact the driver, use one of our call points or call our customer service line. If we are made aware of it, then we can do something about it at the time.

“Ultimately, if someone was to fall, there is a high chance that the person could go under the tram and end up dead.”

Members of the public are asked to report any incidents of tram-surfing to the police on 999 or to Metrolink staff via the call points on stops or trams.