Bombarier tram 4059 in purple livery awaits King Phillippe for the inaugural ride on 21 September. (STIB)
At 15.15 on Saturday 11 January there was a serious tram crash in the French city of Strasbourg. It occurred at Gare Centrale tram subway station and resulted in 50 injuries to passengers. A tram that had departed the station, but found its exit from the subway blocked by crowds taking part in a demonstration, reversed back into the station. Meanwhile another tram had arrived at the platform to set down and pick up passengers. The reversing tram ran into the stationary tram with some force and derailed. 
 
Mayor Jeanne Barseghian later the visited the scene and thanked emergency responders, promising an inquiry to find out what happened and why. Service on the line was suspended for the rest of the day and the damaged trams removed overnight. Bus replacement on lines A and D was provided between Rotonde and Homme de Fer. 
 
The Strasbourg tramway opened in November 1994 and has expanded to 49.1km served by six lines. Further extension is in progress. About 72M passengers/year are carried using 63 Alstom Citadis trams. 
 
Photo: The accident scene at Gare Centrale in Strasbourg. (Facebook). 
 
Bombarier tram 4059 in purple livery awaits King Phillippe for the inaugural ride on 21 September. (STIB)
 
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