Four injured as two Luas trams collide at St Stephen's Green

Four people were receiving medical attention last night after two Luas trams collided at St Stephen's Green. The two trams were badly damaged. Seven large glass panels on the Sandyford-bound tram were shattered, with shards of glass falling in on passengers in the front carriage, which was packed with commuters.

The other Luas tram, which was just about to reach the St Stephen's Green stop, was also badly damaged.

Some of its windows were broken. The gray and silver panelling on both trams was also badly damaged as was the undercarriage on both trams.

Two units of Dublin fire brigade and four ambulances rushed to the scene. The accident happened at around 4.10 p.m. Passengers and eyewitnesses said those on board the Sandyford-bound tram were trapped inside for between five and 10 minutes before they could get the doors open.

Mr Paul Barrett (24), a student from Ballina in Co Mayo, was on the Sandyford-bound tram when the accident happened.

"The impact was similar to something like a bumper car. A lot of people were standing and some of them were jolted forward. There was a woman and man at the very front with young kids, the glass seemed to come in on them most.

"There were a few screams and then the Luas seemed to rumble and we hit the other one. People stayed calm. We didn't realise the damage was so bad. We couldn't get the doors open so one guy just kept pressing the button until it worked. Most people then just got out and walked off. There was nobody on the speaker telling us to stay calm. I was surprised at that."

Another passenger, 14-year-old Stephen Conkey from Swords, Co Dublin said: "At first we didn't really know what had happened. You could feel a few bumps. But people stayed fairly calm, apart from one or two babies crying."

It was the second incident in three weeks in the St Stephen's Green area involving the Luas. On August 27th a tram left the track. Nobody was injured.

Three days later a car hit a Luas tram on Capel Street, and there was a similar accident on Harcourt Street in July.

Fine Gael's transport spokesman, Mr Denis Naughten TD, said yesterday's incident would not be investigated by an independent body because the Railway Safety Bill 2001, which provides for such investigations, has still not been enacted by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.

The collision occurred when the tram leaving St Stephen's Green switched to a parallel track, at a link point, as an incoming tram was approaching on that track. The front carriages collided and scraped along each other before both came to a halt.

A spokesman for the Rail Procurement Agency said the linking mechanism, which allows trams to switch tracks, is controlled from the Red Cow depot.

He said the RPA would await a report from Connex, the company which operates Luas, on the cause of the accident. Connex's contracts manager, Mr Eamonn Ó Modhrain, said it was still not clear what had caused the accident.

"It's unfortunate but Connex can only apologise to the people who have got injured," he said. A spokesperson said the incident would be fully investigated.

Supt Tom Conway of Pearse Street Garda station said: "The two trams appear to still be on the tracks, but obviously we'll have to investigate that a bit further."

He confirmed the driver of the Sandyford-bound tram was taken to hospital suffering from shock.

A three-year-old boy and his two-year-old sister were treated at the scene.

Supt Conway said they had sustained minor cuts and bruises from the broken glass. Their mother was also treated for shock at the scene.