ACCIDENT investigators believe the driver of the tram which crashed in Croydon, south London last year killing seven people had "lost awareness".

A new report out today from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) reveals the number of people believed to be on board the tram when it came off the tracks and when exactly the brakes were applied.

8 The tram crashed in Croydon, south London, on November 9 last year Credit: Jim Bennett

8 Seven people were killed and 51 injured in the smash Credit: London News Pictures

8 Investigators believe the driver 'lost awareness' before the crash happened Credit: PA

Seven people were killed on November 9 after a tram travelling from New Addington to Wimbledon, via Croydon town centre came off the tracks near Sandilands tram stop at around 6.10am.

A further 51 people were injured.

An earlier report, released in November, found the tram was travelling at three-and-a-half times the speed limit as it approached the bend and derailed.

Trams negotiating sharp, left-hand curves should be travelling at a maximum speed of 12.5 mph.

The tram that day was travelling at 43.5 mph.

8 The report found the sign stating the 13mph speed limit could not be seen until a maximum of 120m away Credit: Reuters

8 But the brakes needed to be applied at 180m away from the curve where it crashed Credit: PA

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said the only speed limit sign for that section of track was located at the start of the Sandilands curve where the accident happened.

Analysis has proven drivers can't see the sign in good conditions until they are around 120 metres away - but they need to start braking at 180 metres from the bend.

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The "readability" of the sign is likely to have been reduced by heavy rain at the time of the crash, the RAIB noted.

The report added: "There was no sign to indicate to drivers where they should begin to apply the brake for the Sandilands curve; they were expected to know this from their knowledge of the route."

The second report, released on Monday, found that the driver that day had only applied the brake two and half seconds before reaching the sign and had only reduced his speed from 49mph to 46mph as he passed it.

It also found that the hazard brake had not been used and said: "The late application of the brakes and absence of emergency braking suggests that the driver had lost awareness that he was approaching the tight left-hand curve."

8 Mark Smith, pictured with partner Indre Novikovaite and their son, died in the crash Credit: PA

8 Crystal Palace fan Philip Seary was also among the dead Credit: PA

8 Dane Chinnery also lost his life in the accident on November 9 Credit: Facebook / Dane Rodders Chinnery

Trevor Sterling, Partner at Moore Blatch solicitors which represents a number of victims of the Croydon Tram Crash, said: "We are pleased to see so many agencies collaborating to identify the cause of this fatal crash, and thank RAIB for its latest report. We are however very surprised and concerned at the lack of information that is still unavailable - three months on.

"It is absolutely vital that investigations lead to concrete answers in relation to the driver’s contribution to the accident, and the actual cause, or it will only create more speculation.

"Whilst we recognise that a programme of measures to further reinforce safety is being put in place, determining the source is the only way that Transport for London will be able to implement new measures to address the issue and ensure incidents like this never happen again."

Richard Geraghty, a serious injury lawyer at Slater and Gordon, who represent two of the victims of the tram crash, said: “Many lives have been devastated and irreparably changed as a result of the crash which it appears was wholly avoidable.

"While our clients welcome the report, it is terrible for them to have to hear that the tram was travelling at over four times the speed limit at the time of the crash and that the driver had ‘lost awareness’.

“Our clients deserve full answers as to why and how this tragedy was allowed to happen . We look forward to receiving the findings of the full report.”

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