List of tram accidents
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This is a worldwide list of
accidents An accident is an unintended, normally unwanted event that was not directly caused by humans. The term ''accident'' implies that nobody should be blamed, but the event may have been caused by unrecognized or unaddressed risks. Most researcher ...
involving trams (or streetcars in U.S. English) in which there was significant damage to the tramcar, or involving severe injury or death to those in the tramcar. Pedestrian fatalities are outside the scope of this list.


Argentina

*On 12 July 1930, electric tram no. 75 on Line 105 travelling from
Temperley Temperley is a district in Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina, located in the south of Lomas de Zamora Partido. History In 1854 the industrial and textile merchant George Temperley (born in 1823 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England) bought from the M ...
to Lanús in
Greater Buenos Aires Greater Buenos Aires ( es, Gran Buenos Aires, GBA), also known as the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area ( es, Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires, AMBA), refers to the urban agglomeration comprising the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and the adjac ...
, Argentina, plunged into the
Matanza River The River The Matanza River is known by several names, including, in Spanish, Río de la Matanza ("the slaughter river" in English), Río Matanza ("slaughter river"), Río Mataderos ("slaughterhouses river"), Río de la Manzana ("the apple rive ...
when the driver attempted to cross the Bosch Bridge without realising that the central
bascule Bascule may refer to: * Bascule bridge, a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span in providing clearance for boat traffic * Bascule (horse), the arc a horse's body takes as it goes over a jump * Bascule light, a sma ...
was raised. 56 out of 60 passengers died and only 4 survived, making this the deadliest tram accident anywhere in the world.


Australia

*In January 1864, well-known
Anglo-Australian English Australians, also known as Anglo-Australians, are Australians whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England. In the 2021 census, 8,385,928 people, or 33% of the Australian population, stated that they had English ancestry (wheth ...
musician and composer
Isaac Nathan Isaac Nathan (15 January 1864) was an English composer, musicologist, journalist and self-publicist, who has been called the "father of Australian music". Early success Isaac Nathan was born around 1791 in the English city of Canterbury to a '' ...
was hit and killed by a Sydney horse tram when his clothing was caught in the door, whilst he was attempting to alight. Nathan is reputed to be one of the first tram fatalities in the Southern Hemisphere (many sources claim that it was the first such accident). *On 28 September 1913, a Rockhampton steam tram and its trailer capsized on a sharp bend while returning from the
Rockhampton Botanic Gardens Rockhampton Botanic Gardens is a heritage-listed botanic garden at 100 Spencer Street, The Range, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1873 to 1930s. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 23 ...
resulting in three fatalities. One man died instantly, while two women later died from their injuries in hospital. *On 21 August 1924, a coupled set of Sydney tram E-class cars ran out of control near McMahon's Point, derailed and crashed into a house. There were two fatalities, and the trams were extensively damaged. *On 22 May 2017, a Melbourne tram was hit by a truck in Parkville, hospitalising 14.


Austria

*On 2 August 1960, a tram ran away in
Vienna, Austria en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...
and collided with another on a crossroads. Eighteen people were killed and 104 were injured. *On 21 April 2015, twelve people were injured after two trams collided in Vienna.


Brazil

*On 27 August 2011, a
Santa Teresa Tram The Santa Teresa Tram, or Tramway ( pt, Bonde de Santa Teresa, ), is a historic tram line in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It connects the city centre with the primarily residential, inner-city neighbourhood of Santa Teresa, in the hills immediately ...
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, derailed, killing six people and injuring at least fifty.


Canada

*On 26 May 1896, in
Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. Th ...
, Canada, a Consolidated Electric Railway Company tram car carrying 143 people plunged into a harbour after the bridge it was crossing collapsed. The disaster killed 55 people and left an unknown number of others injured. *On 7 July 1915, a severely overloaded
Niagara Falls Park and River Railway Niagara may refer to: Geography Niagara Falls and nearby places In both the United States and Canada *Niagara Falls, the famous waterfalls in the Niagara River * Niagara River, part of the U.S.–Canada border * Niagara Escarpment, the cliff ...
open-sided car went out of control while descending the
Niagara Escarpment The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in Canada and the United States that runs predominantly east–west from New York through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, and into Illinois. The escarpment is most famous as the cliff over ...
near
Queenston, Ontario Queenston is a compact rural community and unincorporated place north of Niagara Falls in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. It is bordered by Highway 405 to the south and the Niagara River to the east; its location at the eponymo ...
. Fifteen people died, and many others were injured. *On 11 December 1944, a major snowstorm caused a Toronto Transportation Commission streetcar to overturn near Queen and Mutual Streets. One person was killed, and 50 injured.


Croatia

*On 31 October 1954, a Zagreb tram ran away down Mirogoj Road and crashed. Nineteen people were killed and 37 were injured.


Czech Republic

*On 11 April 2008, two Ostrava trams crashed in a head-on collision in a single-track section of the Ostrava-Poruba – Kyjovice-Budišovice tram line near Vřesina. Three people were killed and 66 were injured. The tram driver of one of the trams, who ignored a stop signal, was later sentenced to three years in prison for reckless driving.


Finland

*On 15 September 1920, a
Vyborg tram Vyborg, in Finland until 1940, and since then in Russia, had an electric tramway network from 1912 to 1957. See also * History of rail transport in Finland * History of rail transport in Russia * List of town tramway systems in Europe * Trams ...
derailed and overturned at a junction. Five people, including the tram driver and a pedestrian, were killed and at least 10 were injured. *On 15 June 1945 a freight train collided with a
Helsinki tram The Helsinki tram network forms part of the Helsinki public transport system organised by Helsinki Regional Transport Authority and operated by Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd (Finnish: Pääkaupunkiseudun Kaupunkiliikenne Oy, Swedish: Huvudsta ...
in Sörnäinen harbour. 6 passengers were injured. *On 13 September 2007 a Helsinki tram caught fire next to Pasila railway station. Nobody was injured but the tram suffered heavy damages.


Germany

*On 17 December 1960, a Convair C-131D Samaritan airplane crashed into the city of Munich and struck a tram and people on the street. The tram's trailer burnt out, and all of its occupants died at the accident site or in hospitals. All 20 persons in the airplane and 32 on the ground were killed. *On 23 August 1999, a " CitySprinter" prototype tram under evaluation by
Cologne Stadtbahn The Cologne Stadtbahn is a light rail system in the German city of Cologne, including several surrounding cities of the Cologne Bonn Region (Bergisch Gladbach, Bonn, Bornheim, Brühl, Frechen, Hürth, Leverkusen-Schlebusch, Wesseling). The t ...
(KVB) ran into the rear of another at Christophstrasse Station, an underground station. Seventy people were injured, seven seriously. The accident was initiated by the failure of the vehicle's electronics, thus blocking control over the brakes, and the passengers' emergency brake was inhibited, as required by safety regulations for tunnels. But the driver missed the opportunity to use a separate emergency halt button. KVB then decided to buy " Bombardier Flexity Swift" trams instead. *In 2014, a Düsseldorf tram derailed and overturned at a junction. Several people were injured. *On 15 March 2018 A collision between two trams in
Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
injures 43 people. The driver of one of the trams is suspected to have been driving under the influence of alcohol. *On 4 February 2020 A tram operated by the Duisburger Verkehrsgesellschaft, derailed in
Duisburg Duisburg () is a city in the Ruhr metropolitan area of the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Lying on the confluence of the Rhine and the Ruhr rivers in the center of the Rhine-Ruhr Region, Duisburg is the 5th largest city in Nor ...
and hit a power pole frontally. Two passengers were lightly injured, the driver was stuck in his booth and was seriously injured. The tram itself got towed and was declared as destroyed. *On 2 November 2020, two trams collided head-on in
Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
. At least 15 people were taken to hospital, including both drivers who suffered serious injuries.


Hong Kong

*In 2013 a Light Rail vehicle was derailed after attempting to take a bend too fast. Seventy-seven people were injured. *On 6 April 2017, Hong Kong tram No. 123 was in an accident on Des Voeux Road. It was reported to have been travelling too fast and to have collided with a bus and overturned on a bend. Fourteen people were injured. The driver was consequently jailed for eleven months and disqualified from driving any vehicle for two years.


Isle of Man

*On 5 April 1930, the tram depot at Laxey, Isle of Man was destroyed by fire.
Manx Electric Railway The Manx Electric Railway ( Manx: ''Raad Yiarn Lectragh Vannin'') is an electric interurban tramway connecting Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey in the Isle of Man. It connects with the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway at its southern terminus at Derby Castle ...
trams 3, 4, 8 and 24, plus trailers 34, 35, 38–41 and 44 were destroyed. Trailer 60 was damaged. *On 30 March 2016,
Snaefell Mountain Railway The Snaefell Mountain Railway ( gv, Raad Yiarn Sniaull) is an electric mountain railway on the Isle of Man in Europe. It joins the village of Laxey with the summit of Snaefell, at above sea level the highest point on the island. It connects wit ...
car No. 3 ran away from with nobody on board. The tram derailed before reaching
Bungalow station Bungalow Station ( Manx: ''Stashoon Yn Thie Injil'') (more commonly ''The Bungalow'') is the only intermediate station on the Isle of Man's Snaefell Mountain Railway and is located where the main mountain road intersects the line. Origins The ...
and was destroyed.


Italy

*On 23 September 1890 a number of tram cars left the track between Florence and Fiesole, five passengers were killed.


Netherlands

*On 7 August 1927, two trams of the "Gooische Stoomtram" tramway company crashed in a head-on collision in a single-track section near Laren, North Holland. Four people were killed and seven seriously injured. *On 27 October 1943, two trams of the "Rotterdamsche Tramweg Maatschappij" tramway company collided with each other on a crossroads near
Spijkenisse Spijkenisse () is a city in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. Following an administrative reform in 2015, it is part of the municipality of Nissewaard, and has a population of 72,500. It covers an area of of which is water. It is part ...
. Eight people were killed and about forty injured. *On 2 September 2018, a RET tram ran into the rear of another tram on Dwarsdijk,
Rotterdam Rotterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Rotte'') is the second largest city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is in the province of South Holland, part of the North Sea mouth of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, via the ''"N ...
, injuring nine people. *On 16 March 2021, an
Utrecht sneltram External links * Bestuur Regio Utrechtis the public transportation authority in the Utrecht region Regiotram Utrechtmanages tram system assets U-OVis the website for public transport in Utrecht Qbuzzoperates trams and buses on behalf of Bestuu ...
tram carrying six passengers collided with a van and was derailed in Herculeslaan,
Utrecht Utrecht ( , , ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city and a List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, pro ...
. *On 17 April 2021, an Utrecht sneltram collided with a car and was derailed in Koekoeslaan,
Nieuwegein Nieuwegein () is a municipality and city in the Netherlands, Dutch province of Utrecht (province), Utrecht. It is bordered on the north by the city of Utrecht (city), Utrecht, the provincial capital. It is separated from Vianen to the south by the ...
,
Utrecht Utrecht ( , , ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city and a List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, pro ...
.


Norway

*On 2 August 1958, an
Oslo Tramway The Oslo tram network ( no, Trikken i Oslo, short from ', 'electric') is the tram system in Oslo, Norway. It consists of six lines with 99 stops and has a daily ridership of 132,000. It is operated by , a subsidiary of the municipally-owned who ...
tram caught fire in Strømsveien Street. Five people were killed, seventeen were injured.


Poland

*On 7 December 1967, a heavily loaded tram in Szczecin, Poland, consisting of one power car and two trailers, ran away downhill after the
dynamic brakes Dynamic braking is the use of an electric traction motor as a Electric generator, generator when slowing a vehicle such as an electric locomotive, electric or diesel locomotive, diesel-electric locomotive. It is termed "Resistor#Adjustable resis ...
failed, and derailed and overturned on a bend. The accident killed 15 people and injured around 150, 40 of them seriously. *On 3 September 1987 two trams collided in
Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
, resulting in 7 fatalities and 73 injured. The young motorman of the
tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
heading eastbound did not realize the track was switched to take a left turn and caused a head-on collision with a tram heading westbound. Just a few hours later another serious crash occurred in Warsaw. Two trains collided at the Warszawa Włochy station, resulting in another 8 fatalities and several dozen wounded. This day was later called "The Black Thursday". *In
Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John ...
on 8 September 1993 the motorman of tram No. 10 mistook which route the line was set for and went off the track. The tram fell on its side and then hit the wall of a building. Five people were killed and sixty wounded, the driver was sentenced to three years in prison.


Portugal

*On 15 December 2018, a tram derailed and overturned in
Lisbon Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...
. Twenty-eight people were injured.


Romania

*On 15 February 1994, a V3A tram heading towards Piața Muncii derails at Piața Iancului in Bucharest due to a faulty switch. The last (third) section of the tram tips over and falls over several passengers waiting at the station for the opposite direction, killing between 1 and 3 people (the exact number is unknown) *On 28 March 1997, during a test ride of a Timiș 2 tram. the rear trailer car derailed due to the poor condition of the track quality, on the CUG-Nicolina route in Iași. The trailer car subsequently collided with an oncoming
Tatra T4 T4 is the name of a tram produced by ČKD Tatra. It is the narrower variant of the Tatra T3 model. A large number of cars was supplied to the GDR, the USSR, Romania and the former Yugoslavia using names T4D, T4SU, T4R and T4YU, respectively. The ...
R tram from the opposite direction, resulting in 5 injuries. The accident led to the closure of the line towards the Heavy Machinery Plant (Combinatul de Utilaje Grele) on 3 April 1997 for the next 18 years. *On 22 March 2011, a former
Bern german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese , neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen , website ...
tram ran away down the Copou hill in
Iași Iași ( , , ; also known by other alternative names), also referred to mostly historically as Jassy ( , ), is the second largest city in Romania and the seat of Iași County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, it has traditionally ...
. The tram, travelling at over 50 km/h, struck a line of cars that were soon destroyed by the force of impact. One person was left dead and another 6 were injured. No injuries were recorded inside the tram itself. *On 10 May 2012, at the Lujerului Underpass in
Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...
, three trams were involved in a massive collision that injured up to 100 people. One tram broke down, the second one stopped behind it, but the third one failed to stop in time. *On 18 July 2012, at the
Ferentari Ferentari is a neighbourhood located in the 5th Sector of Bucharest, Romania. Etymology The word "Ferentari" comes from the Latin word "Ferentarius" meaning "soldier in the old pedestrian army". Area It is located in the South-South-West of B ...
-
Rahova Rahova is a neighbourhood of southwest Bucharest, Romania, situated in Sector 5, west of Dâmboviţa River. It is named after the Bulgarian town ''Rahovo'' (today Oryahovo), site of a battle in the Romanian War of Independence. The neighborh ...
intersection, also in Bucharest, a tram heading towards its depot derailed after a set of faulty points changed underneath the last section. It entered the path, and struck another oncoming tram, heading the opposite way. Only 18 people were injured, but the damage was so high, that the articulated section of the derailed tram broke into 2 pieces


Serbia

*On 12 November 2018, a tram derailed at an intersection in central
Belgrade Belgrade ( , ;, ; Names of European cities in different languages: B, names in other languages) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers a ...
after being hit by a car that ran a red light. A pedestrian died and several people were injured.


Slovakia

* On 30 October 1978, a completely full tram in
Košice Košice ( , ; german: Kaschau ; hu, Kassa ; pl, Коszyce) is the largest city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary. With a population of app ...
, Slovakia, ran away down hill and its rear car derailed on a sharp bend near the stop Amfiteáter after the
dynamic brakes Dynamic braking is the use of an electric traction motor as a Electric generator, generator when slowing a vehicle such as an electric locomotive, electric or diesel locomotive, diesel-electric locomotive. It is termed "Resistor#Adjustable resis ...
failed, and the driver called for the emergency brake too late. The accident, which is recorded on film, killed 9 people, and injured many more. However, it is suspected that the VB reduced the death count significantly to avoid further inspection by commission from Prague. This accident was later called "The Košice tram of death". To prevent any further accidents like this, all trams now have a mandatory stop on the hill.


Spain Source of data i
FCMAF Association
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1889–1929

* On 11 June 1889, two trams collided in Barcelona resulting in one killed and one more injured. * On 26 March 1893, a train ran over a tram on the Barcelona to Badalona line in Barcelona, killing one and injuring almost 4 more. * On 15 March 1894, a steam tram from Clot to the San Andrés del Palomar line collided with a train on a level crossing. 1 person was killed and 30 injured. * On 20 July 1895, a train collided with a tram at a crossing in Valencia and resulted in 3 dead and almost 8 injured. * On 13 September 1896, two trams collided in Valencia. 1 was killed and 30 more injured. * On 15 August 1897, a tram from the Horta line derailed in Barcelona, killing one person and injuring 3 more. * On 5 November 1900, a tram derailed in Madrid killing one and injuring two more. * On 23 December 1907, a train ran over a tram in Barcelona. One died and five more were injured. * On 21 June 1912, a tram overturned in Barcelona. One person dies and several people were injured. * On 29 June 1912, two trams from the San Sebastian to Tolosa line collided near San Sebastián, injuring 24. * On 2 July 1912 a train ran over a tram in Grao área in Valencia, killing 4 people and injuring 20 more. * On 9 February 1913 an accident on a tram in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria killed one person. * On 2 July 1916, a tram derailed and overturned in Palma de Mallorca, killing one and injuring several more. * On 5 March 1918, a Barcelona tram collided with a freight train on
level crossing A level crossing is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road, Trail, path, or (in rare situations) airport runway, at the same level, as opposed to the railway line crossing over or under using an Overpass#Railway, overpass ...
, killing 5 people and injuring 24. * On 1 May 1922 a tram deraided and crashed into a wall in Oviedo with 4 dead and 13 injured. * On 18 July 1921 two trams collided at Castelar square in Madrid, killing one and injuring an unknown number of people. * On 21 March 1923, a train ran over a tram in Barcelona at Ribas road level crossing. 3 were killed and 20 more injured. * On 17 August 1927 two trams on the San Sebastián to Tolosa suburban line collided in Oria (Guipúzcoa). 1 died and 6 were injured.


1930–1949

* On 19 April 1933, around 40 people were injured in a collision of two trams in Barcelona. * On 17 November 1933 a tram lost its brakes in a ramp, derailed and overturned at Vigo, killing 2 and injuring more 60. * On 5 August 1934 a bus - tram collision in Barcelona left one dead and eleven injured. * On 11 February 1936, a train collided with a tram in Mislata (Valencia) at a level crossing, killing 4 and injuring 21 more. * On 19 April 1937, in the Spanish Civil War, during a air raid over Barcelona, a bomb exploded near a tram thah ran along Paralelo avenue. The tram derailed and the explosion killed the tram driver and injured several more. * In July 1937 one person was killed when two trams collided in Barcelona. * On 1 January 1939 a tram collided with a train at a level crossing near Paterna (Valencia province), 7 died and 16 were injured. * On 17 August 1939, two trams collided at Cibeles square in Madrid, killing one and injuring several more. * On 2 September 1940, two trams collided al Urgell avenue in Barcelona. One was killed and several injured. * On 7 November 1942, a train collided with a tram at Bonanova level crossing in Barcelona. Ine was killed and several injured. * On 7 April 1944 a tram overturned in Madrid killing 1 and injuring 30 more. * On 28 June 1944 two trams collided in Madrid injuring 40. * In september 1946, a tram accident at Santander killed three people. * On 9 March 1947 two trams covering lines 17 and 23 collided in Sevilla. One was killed and one more injured. * On 30 June 1947, two trams collided in Madrid. One was killed and 43 injured. * On 5 August 1947, two trams on lines 60 and 62 collided in Barcelona injuring 29 people. * On 13 October 1947, one person died in a tram accident in Vigo. * On 23 October 1947, two trams collided in Madrid. One child was killed and one passenger more injured. * On 17 November 1947, 30 were injured in Barcelona when a tram on line 48 collided with the barrier of a level crossing. * On 13 December 1947, a lorry collided wirh the rear of a tram in Madrid, killing 1 and injuring 5. * On 2 February 1948, a train ran over a tram at a crossing in Pedro IV street in Barcelona, killing one and injuring 8 more. * On 13 October 1948, two trams collided in Barcelona. 24 were injured. * On 30 October 1948 a tram derailed and crashed into a wall in Bilbao. One woman died and 27 people were injured. * On 6 November 1948, a tram collided with a lorry at Paseo Imperial in Madrid. One died and two more were injured. * On 24 January 1949, a collision of two trams in Madrid caused 24 injured. * On 1 March 1949, two trams collided in Barcelona. 1 dies and 4 were injured. * On 24 August 1949, one person died in a tram - lorry collision in Sevilla.


1950–1965

* On 8 April 1950, a tram and a taxi collided in Sevilla. The tram overturned and several people were trapped under the tram. 2 were killed and 22 injured. * On 28 November 1950, a tram of the Ferrol - Xubia line derailed and crashed into a wall. 1 was killed and 4 injured. * On 28 May 1952, in Madrid, a tram on line 31 fell from the bridge of Toledo onto the river Manzanares riverbank. 15 people died and 112 were injured, 44 seriously. * On 16 September 1952, a train - tram collision in Mislata (Valencia) killed 5 and injured 26 more. * On 5 November 1952, a tram - tram collision on the Ivenida Icaria level crossing in Barcelona caused 4 deaths and 39 injuries. * On 19 May 1953, in Madrid, a tram lost its brakes on a ramp and collided into the rear of another one. 1 died and 54 were injured. * On 27 June 1953, two trams collided in Barcelona. 1 died and 20 were injured. * On 27 November 1953, two trams collided in Madrid, injuring 25. * On 27 January 1955, two trams collided in Madrid, 1 died and 10 were injured. * On 18 March 1957 around 100 people were injured when two trams on lines 70 and 71 collided due the fog near river Besós bridge in Barcelona. * On 28 December 1959, three trams collided in Barcelona. One was killed. * On 13 January 1961, a tram - lorry collision killed one and injured several more in Barcelona. * On 1 September 1965, a bus - tram collision in Barcelona injured 35.


Sweden

* On 12 March 1992,
Gothenburg tram The Gothenburg tramway network ( sv, Göteborgs spårvägar) is part of the public transport system organised by Göteborgs Spårvägar, controlled by Västtrafik in the Swedish city of Gothenburg. The system's approximately of single track & ...
Model M21 No. 245 lost its electric power at Kapellplatsen. In an attempt to move the tram out of traffic, the automatic brakes were disabled causing the tram to hurtle backwards down a hill at more than with a driver on board, unable to stop it, and a police car racing alongside, with sirens on to alert the public. The tram hit cars, before derailing at Vasaplatsen, folding in half and hitting people and cars waiting at the stop, coming to a stop after crashing into a building and bursting into flames. Thirteen people were killed and around 30 were seriously injured.


Switzerland

*On 15 January 1926 a tram was derailed by snow near Zug, with the death of three passengers. *On 10 November 1966, a tram derailed in Zürich, Switzerland and crashed into a building. A passenger was killed and 71 were injured.


Ukraine

*On 2 July 1996, in
Kamianske Kamianske ( uk, Кам'янське, ), formerly Dniprodzerzhynsk, is an industrial city in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast of Ukraine and a port on the Dnieper. Administratively, it serves as the administrative center of Kamianske Raion. Kamianske hosts ...
, Ukraine, an overcrowded tram car carrying at least 150 people derailed and crashed through a concrete wall, after its brakes failed while going down a steep hill. The disaster killed 34 people and injured over 100 others.


United Kingdom


1880s

*On 14 October 1881, a
Newcastle Corporation Tramways Newcastle Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Newcastle upon Tyne between 1901 and 1950. History Services began on 16 December 1901. A fleet of twenty ‘A- Class’ tramcars built in 1901 by Hurst Nelson and Co. Ltd. of Mothe ...
tram was blown over in a gale at Newcastle upon Tyne. Several people were severely wounded. *On 7 August 1882, a
Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Company The Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Company operated a steam tramway service between Blackburn and Darwen between 1881 and 1898. History The tramway was authorised by the Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Act of 1879. The route started in ...
tram ran away, derailed and overturned at Ewood Bridge, Blackburn. One person was killed and 30 were injured. *On 3 July 1883, a
Huddersfield Corporation Tramways Huddersfield Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Huddersfield, England, between 1883 and 1940. It initially used steam locomotives pulling unpowered tramcars, but as the system was expanded, a decision was taken to change to elec ...
steam tram engine and trailer ran away downhill and derailed at the junction of Westgate and Railway Street. Seven people were killed and twenty were injured. *On 29 December 1883, a tram ran away downhill on the Wigan and Pemberton Tramway after the driver had left the tram to snatch a child from danger that was in front of the tram. The tram hit another tram killing one of the passengers. *On 12 September 1885, a Bradford and Sheffield Tramways tram ran away downhill from the Wibsey Bank Foot depot in Bradford after being steamed up, it hit and killed a pedestrian and a man driving a horse-drawn vehicle.


1890s

*On 19 September 1898, a Bradford City Tramways tram ran away on Horton Bank, derailed and crashed. One person was killed, fourteen were seriously injured.


1900s

*On 28 June 1902, a
Huddersfield Corporation Tramways Huddersfield Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Huddersfield, England, between 1883 and 1940. It initially used steam locomotives pulling unpowered tramcars, but as the system was expanded, a decision was taken to change to elec ...
electric tram ran away down Somerset Road and crashed on Wakefield Road. Three people were killed and several injured. *On 1 June 1906,
Swindon Corporation Tramways Swindon Corporation Tramways operated an electric passenger tramway service in Swindon between 1904 and 1929.The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis. History Swindon Corporation was the local council formed by the 1901 Mun ...
tram No. 11 ran away on Victora Road and overturned. Five people were killed, 30 were injured. *On 23 June 1906,
Metropolitan Electric Tramways Metropolitan Electric Tramways Limited (MET) operated electric tram services in suburban areas of Middlesex and Hertfordshire from 1904 to 1933, when its services passed to the London Passenger Transport Board. History The company originated in ...
tram No. 115 ran away in Archway Road, crashed into five other vehicles and another tram. Three people were killed, twenty were injured. *On 1 July 1906,
Halifax Corporation Tramways Halifax Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England between 1898 and 1939. After considering lifts and inclined planes to assist trams in negotiating the steep hills to the south of the town, they obtain ...
tram No. 94 ran away down New Bank, derailed and overturned. Two people were killed, eleven were injured. *On 1 April 1907,
South Metropolitan Electric Tramways South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz' ...
tram No. 19 ran away, derailed and overturned in Wallington. Two people were killed, 36 were injured. *On 31 July 1907, Bradford City Tramways tram No. 210 derailed in Church Bank due to a fractured axle. Two people were killed and sixteen were injured. *On 1 October 1907, a
City of Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd The City of Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd operated trams in Birmingham, England, from 1896 until 1911. The company was formed on 29 September 1896 by James Ross (President and Vice-President of the Toronto and Montreal Street Railway Co. ...
tram ran away down Ickneild Street, derailed and overturned. Two people were killed and eleven were injured. *On 15 October 1907, Halifax Corporation Tramways tram No. 64 ran away backwards down Pye Nest Road and derailed. Six people were killed, 37 were injured. *On 1 May 1908,
Bournemouth Corporation Tramways Bournemouth Corporation Tramways served the town of Bournemouth in Dorset (although at the time it was in Hampshire) from 23 July 1902 until 8 April 1936. History In June 1905 the company took a lease on the Poole and District Electric Tram ...
tram No. 72 ran away down Poole Hill and derailed at Fairy Glen. Seven people were killed, 26 were injured.


1910s

*On 5 June 1911, Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley & Dukinfield Tramways & Electricity Board tram No. 44 ran away down Ditchcroft Hill, Stalybridge, derailed and overturned. One person was killed, 33 were injured. *On 2 September 1911,
London County Council Tramways The London County Council Tramways was an extensive network of public street tramways operated by the council throughout the County of London, UK, from 1899 to 1933, when they were taken over by the London Passenger Transport Board. Acquisiti ...
tram No. 110 derailed and overturned in Lewisham High Road. One person was killed, 35 were injured. *On 20 October 1911, a Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Tramways & Electricity board tram ran away down Stamford Road, Mossley, derailed and crashed onto the railway at
Mossley railway station Mossley railway station in Mossley, Greater Manchester, England, is on the Huddersfield Line north-east of Manchester Victoria and is managed by Northern, which do not provide any services to or from this station. Only TransPennine Express t ...
. The guard and four passengers were killed, four passengers were seriously injured. *On 18 October 1913, Tynemouth and District Electric Traction Company tram No. 23 collided with trolley wagon No. 27 at Benton Farm. Two people were killed, six were injured. *On 27 November 1914,
Devonport and District Tramways The tramways in Plymouth were originally constructed as four independent networks operated by three different companies to serve the adjacent towns of Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport in Devon, England. The merger of the ' Three Towns' into ...
tram No. 25 was derailed at Paradise Road due to excessive speed on a curve. Three people were killed, 33 were injured. *On 2 December 1914,
Barnsley and District Tramway The Barnsley and District Electric Traction Co was an electric tramway network serving the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The tramway was a subsidiary of the British Electric Traction and services begun on 31 October 1902. In early 1898, t ...
tram No. 4 ran away on Eldon Street North, derailed and crashed into a shop. Two people were killed, four were injured. *On 5 February 1916, Gateshead and District Tramways Company tram No. 7 ran away in Bensham Road and derailed on a curve. Four people were killed, ten were injured. *On 28 December 1916, a Luton Corporation Tramways tram ran away and derailed at the junction of Old Bedford Road and Midland Road. Seven people were injured, one seriously. *On 7 March 1917,
Exeter Corporation Tramways Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal com ...
tram No. 17 ran away and derailed in Fore Street. One person was killed and three were injured. *On 19 August 1917,
Dover Corporation Tramways Dover Corporation Tramways was the operator of the second tramway system built in the United Kingdom. It was in operation from 1897 to 1936. The worst ever tram accident in the United Kingdom occurred on the system in 1917. History Construction ...
tram No. 23 ran away down Crabble Hill, derailed and overturned. Eleven people were killed and sixty were injured. This was the deadliest tram accident in the United Kingdom. *On 1 February 1918, Bradford City Tramways tram No. 88 derailed and overturned in Chapel Lane, Allerton. One person was killed and nineteen were injured. *On 5 December 1918,
Glasgow Corporation Tramways Glasgow Corporation Tramways were formerly one of the largest urban tram, tramway systems in Europe. Over 1000 municipally-owned trams served the city of Glasgow, Scotland, with over 100 route miles (160 route kilometres) by 1922. The system clo ...
Car No. 157 derailed and overturned in Victoria Road opposite Queen's Park Gate, when it left the rails and overturned. Three people were killed and fifty six were injured. *On 8 October 1919, Burton and Ashby Light Railway tram No. 19 ran away backwards in Bearwood Hill Road and was derailed. Two people were killed, sixteen were injured.


1920s

*On 21 December 1923, a lorry collided with
Barnsley and District Tramway The Barnsley and District Electric Traction Co was an electric tramway network serving the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The tramway was a subsidiary of the British Electric Traction and services begun on 31 October 1902. In early 1898, t ...
tram No. 10, which ran away backwards and derailed at Lane Head. Two people were killed, seven were injured. *In 1926, a tram ran away downhill and crashed in Bridge Street, Darwen. Two people were killed.


1930s

*On 12 April 1930, a
Glasgow Corporation Tramways Glasgow Corporation Tramways were formerly one of the largest urban tram, tramway systems in Europe. Over 1000 municipally-owned trams served the city of Glasgow, Scotland, with over 100 route miles (160 route kilometres) by 1922. The system clo ...
tram derailed and overturned at the junction to Dumbarton Road and Crow Road. Two passengers were killed and around 60 were injured, eighteen seriously. *On 23 August 1932,
Great Orme Tramway The Great Orme Tramway ( cy, Tramffordd y Gogarth) is a cable-hauled gauge tramway in Llandudno in north Wales. Open seasonally from late March to late October, it takes over 200,000 passengers each year from Llandudno Victoria Station to just b ...
tram No. 4 derailed and hit a wall. The driver and a passenger were killed, ten passengers were seriously injured. *On 3 July 1933, a Bath Tramways Company tram ran away backwards on Wells Road and crashed into another tram. A passenger was killed and fifteen were injured. *On 2 January 1934, a
Liverpool Corporation Tramways Liverpool Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Liverpool between 1898 and 1957. History In 1897, Liverpool Corporation bought the Liverpool United Tramway and Omnibus Company and obtained a Private Act of Parliament, the Liver ...
tram ran away down a hill, derailed and overturned in Crown Street. One person was killed and 35 injured, several seriously. *On 25 March 1934, a London tram derailed and overturned on a curve in
Eltham Eltham ( ) is a district of southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is east-southeast of Charing Cross, and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. The three wards of Elt ...
due to excessive speed. Four people were injured.


1950s

* On 24 May 1950, a tramcar and double-decker-bus collided on Great Western Road in Glasgow, killing seven and injuring 43. *On 30 March 1953, a
Glasgow Corporation Tramways Glasgow Corporation Tramways were formerly one of the largest urban tram, tramway systems in Europe. Over 1000 municipally-owned trams served the city of Glasgow, Scotland, with over 100 route miles (160 route kilometres) by 1922. The system clo ...
tram overturned due to excessive speed through a junction. Fifty-six people were injured. *On 28 January 1959, a Glasgow Corporation Tramways tram collided with a lorry and caught fire. The tram driver and two passengers were killed. Thirty people were injured.


1990s

*On 12 August 1996, a lorry collided with a Manchester Metrolink tram at the junction of Corporation Street and Miller Street. Sixteen people were injured, one seriously.


2000s

*On 19 December 2006, trams 09 and 10 of the Midland Metro collided in Winson Green, injuring a group of people while en route to the Metro's then
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
Snow Hill terminus. *September 2008 – Croydon. The driver of a double deck bus misread traffic signals which had been altered the day beforehand, colliding with a tram and derailing it, so that it ran on the street pavement before crashing. The bus ran into a shop and a passenger on the upper deck was ejected through a side window (toughened glass) and died from injuries received. RAIB did not report on this, as it was considered to be a road crash, but the summary produced is far more detailed and informative than any other reports in the public domain. The death of the bus passenger through lack of laminated glass in side windows has parallels with the deaths in the 2016 Croydon tram crash, and deaths in coach overturning incidents, where glazing failures allowed passengers to fall out of the secure protection inside the vehicle body. This was behind the attempts to enforce seat belt wearing in UK coaches.


2010s

*On 9 November 2016, a London Tramlink tram derailed at Sandilands in
Croydon Croydon is a large town in south London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a local government district of Greater London. It is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, with an extensi ...
due to excessive speed on a curve. Seven people were killed and 62 were injured. *On 25 October 2018 a Sheffield Supertram operating on the newly opened Tram-Train route collided with a lorry at the Staniforth Road/Woodburn Road junction in Attercliffe. Several people were taken to hospital but there were no fatalities. The driver of the lorry was charged with driving without due care and attention and contravention of a red light. He was scheduled to appear in court on 13 June 2019, and pleaded guilty to driving through a red light, with no evidence entered on the other charge. *On 30 November 2018 a Sheffield Supertram operating on the same Tram-Train route collided with a car at exactly the same location. Several people were treated at the scene for minor injuries, and one was taken to hospital but later discharged. There were no major injuries or fatalities. The cause of this incident is currently unknown and under investigation. *
West Midlands Metro The West Midlands Metro (originally named Midland Metro) is a light-rail/tram system in the county of West Midlands, England. Opened on 30 May 1999, it currently consists of a single route, Line 1, which operates between the cities of Birmin ...
tram 31 was derailed on 19 August 2019 by collision with a private vehicle. The car driver was injured as were the tram driver and four passengers on the tram. The crash was caused by the car driver running a red light on the Bilston Road Island, close to
Wolverhampton Wolverhampton () is a city, metropolitan borough and administrative centre in the West Midlands, England. The population size has increased by 5.7%, from around 249,500 in 2011 to 263,700 in 2021. People from the city are called "Wulfrunian ...
City Centre.


2020s

*On 23 July 2021, Sheffield Supertram tram 105 was derailed in a collision with a lorry on Cricket Inn Road,
Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...
. One person was taken to hospital with minor injuries.


United States

*On 5 October 1883, a streetcar was in collision with a passenger train on a grade crossing in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
. Three people were killed and ten were injured. *On 12 May 1889 a streetcar descending
Denny Hill The Denny Triangle is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, United States, that stretches north of the Downtown, Seattle, Washington, central business district to the grounds of Seattle Center. Its generally flat terrain was originally a steep ...
in
Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is a port, seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the county seat, seat of King County, Washington, King County, Washington (state), Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in bo ...
, suffered a cable malfunction and crashed after hitting a sharp curve. The crash killed one passenger and injured another. *On 1 November 1893, a streetcar in
Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
plunged into the Willamette River after running off an open swing bridge. Seven people died. *On 4 July 1900, an overcrowded Tacoma Railway & Power tram car derailed and plunged into a ravine in
Tacoma, Washington Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, Washington, Olympia, and northwest of Mount ...
. The accident killed 43 people and left 65 others injured. *On 7 November 1916, Boston Elevated Railway Co. streetcar No. 393 smashed through the warning gates of the open Summer Street drawbridge in Boston, Massachusetts, plunging into the frigid waters of Fort Point Channel, killing 46 people. *On 24 December 1917, a Pittsburgh Railways streetcar ran away downhill in the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel after becoming detached from the wire and derailed and overturned on a curve. The car slid on its side until hitting a telegraph pole which ripped the roof off. Twenty-one people were killed and 80 were injured. *On 14 November 1944, two Pittsburgh Railways streetcars collided in a heavy fog, killing five people and injuring thirty-five. *On 25 May 1950, a petrol tanker collided with a streetcar in Chicago, Illinois, creating a fire which destroyed five buildings. A total of 34 people were killed on the tramcar and another 50 left injured, either on the tram or in the surrounding area. *On 10 February 1978, a Pittsburgh Railways streetcar was in a head-on collision with a bus near the Palm Garden Bridge. Four people were killed and 28 were injured. *On 29 October 1987, a Pittsburgh Light Rail 1700-series
PCC car The PCC (Presidents' Conference Committee) is a streetcar (tram) design that was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II it was licensed for use elsewhere in the ...
was going downhill through Mount Washington Transit Tunnel when its brakes failed. The driver ordered the passengers to the back of the trolley as it picked up speed. The streetcar sideswiped a city bus and a truck, ripped out a utility pole and fire hydrant then ran into a six-story, brick office building. Thirty-seven people were injured, four seriously, but there were no fatalities. All three braking systems on the car had failed: the
drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a she ...
,
track Track or Tracks may refer to: Routes or imprints * Ancient trackway, any track or trail whose origin is lost in antiquity * Animal track, imprints left on surfaces that an animal walks across * Desire path, a line worn by people taking the shorte ...
and
dynamic Dynamics (from Greek δυναμικός ''dynamikos'' "powerful", from δύναμις ''dynamis'' "power") or dynamic may refer to: Physics and engineering * Dynamics (mechanics) ** Aerodynamics, the study of the motion of air ** Analytical dynam ...
rail brakes.


Zimbabwe

* On 7 July 2014 a freight train hit a tram at Victoria Falls Railway Station, Zimbabwe which was attempting to move off the main line, killing 1 person and injuring at least a dozen others.


References

{{Reflist, 20em *
Tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...