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Transport chiefs are urgently investigating video footage showing a Croydon tram driver apparently asleep at the controls during the morning rush hour.

The video was taken by a concerned passenger on Wednesday at around 8am after the packed tram stopped at lights near George Street in Croydon and failed to move off again.

The shocked commuter said the driver was asleep for several minutes and people were forced to bang on the window to wake him up.

The video was taken on a Wimbledon-bound tram near East Croydon station, three stops from where a speeding tram derailed last November, killing seven passengers and injuring 51.

Tram operator FirstGroup has suspended the driver and launched an immediate investigation into the new footage, which TfL has passed to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was "furious" about the latest incident, which follows reports of tram drivers asleep on the job and of speed limits continuing to be breached.

Last month, four current and former Croydon tram drivers admitted to the BBC that they had fallen asleep at the controls - and that a “dead man’s handle” safety device had failed to stop the vehicle.

Alfred Dorris, who was driving the tram that crashed on November 9, is thought by investigators to have “lost awareness” as he approached a bend at 46mph, three-and-a-half times the limit.

The latest video shows the driver slumped forward as passengers watch through his compartment window.

The commuter who took the video told the Standard around 50 people were on board at the time, including mothers with children. Most of them got off at the next stop because they were so concerned.

The man, who was on his way to work in Croydon, said: “The tram stopped at the lights because he just fell asleep. We had to hit the windows to wake him up.

“I think he was there for about two minutes. If we didn’t wake him up he’d have been asleep even longer.”

He added: “When people saw he was sleeping they were saying ‘this is a joke, you can’t be serious’. When we banged on the window he just jumped up and then carried on as normal.

"I told him ‘you can’t be falling asleep at this time of the morning, there are people on board’. Afterwards almost everyone got off at George Street just to be safe.

“It makes me concerned about using it. It’s not acceptable, anything could have happened. Maybe they need to hire more staff.”

A FirstGroup spokesman told the Standard: “We are very clear that it is unacceptable for tram drivers to lose concentration, for any reason, during their shift.

“We have commenced a full investigation into this incident and will take all appropriate action. The driver in question has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of this investigation.

“We do not tolerate any violation of our safety policies, processes and procedures. Any employee found to be in contravention of these will face disciplinary action.”

Leon Daniels, managing director for surface transport at TfL, said: “We have taken immediate action to refer this footage to the industry regulator, the Office of Rail and Road and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, for urgent investigation.

“We have also instructed FirstGroup, who operate the tram network, to take any further action necessary to ensure that they are dealing with driver tiredness in order to keep passengers completely safe.”

Earlier this month Mr Khan called for an investigation into the BBC’s claims. The Mayor told the Standard today: “I am absolutely furious about this incident and I’m sure all Londoners will be as shocked as I am today.

“I have spoken to the chief executive of FirstGroup, who operate the trams, to make my feelings crystal clear.

“I’ve demanded urgent answers from FirstGroup, as well as a reassurance that every possible measure will be taken to keep passengers safe.

“I have also ordered TfL to immediately report this urgent matter to the Office of Rail and Road, and to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.

He added: “This comes just six months after the tragic incident in Croydon which left seven people dead and more than 50 injured. Bereaved families and survivors will be appalled by this video.

“I’d like to thank the member of the public who brought this to our attention.”

Dorris, 43, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. He was re-bailed earlier this month. The two-carriage tram overturned near Sandilands at 6.07am.

An interim report into the disaster saw a string of new safety recommendations implemented.