Milan, March 8 – A tram on line 12 derailed last night, shortly after 10 PM, in via Galvani, at the corner with via Filzi, near Milan’s Central Station. The tram was en route to the Leoncavallo depot. Fortunately, there were no passengers on board, only the driver, and no injuries have been reported.
Investigation Points to a Bolt on the Tracks
Initial investigations suggest that a loose bolt on the tracks caused the tram to slide off the rails while navigating a curve. This incident marks the second tram derailment in Milan within a week, raising concerns about track maintenance and safety.
Older Model Tram Involved
Unlike the previous incident on Friday, February 27, which involved a state-of-the-art bidirectional Tramlink that crashed into a restaurant, this latest derailment involved an older ‘Jumbo’ model from the ATM fleet. The previous accident resulted in the deaths of two passengers and injuries to 54 others, highlighting the severity of such occurrences.
Previous Incident and Ongoing Concerns
The earlier incident, which saw a modern Tramlink collide with a restaurant at the intersection of viale Vittorio Veneto and via Lazzaretto, brought significant attention to tram safety in Milan. While the current derailment had no casualties, the recurrence of such events within a short period is prompting calls for a thorough review of the city’s tram infrastructure and maintenance protocols.
ATM’s Fleet and Safety Measures
ATM, Milan’s public transport company, operates a diverse fleet of trams, including both older models like the ‘Jumbo’ and newer, more technologically advanced Tramlinks. The incidents underscore the importance of consistent maintenance across all models to ensure passenger safety and operational reliability. Authorities are expected to address these concerns and potentially implement new safety measures to prevent future derailments.
Source: https://milano.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_marzo_08/milano-tram-deraglia-nei-pressi-della-stazione-centrale-e-il-secondo-caso-in-una-settimana-nessun-ferito-f749da6f-3e97-4592-bc85-58f077e3fxlk.shtml
