Revealed: Croydon tram was travelling at three-and-a-half times the 12.5mph speed limit when it derailed killing seven passengers 

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A tram which crashed in Croydon leaving seven dead and 51 injured was travelling at three-and-a-half times the speed limit when it derailed, accident investigators say.

It arrived too fast at a sharp bend and careered more than 80ft on its right side, shooting off the track at 43.5mph when the top speed permitted was 12.5mph.

The driver was initially arrested on suspicion of manslaughter but later bailed, with detectives said to be probing various claims he may have been texting, had blacked out or fell asleep in the moments leading up to the disaster.

But today it emerged investigators may never know for certain after it was revealed neither the tram's internal or external CCTV cameras were working at the time.

Investigators have so far found no evidence of track defects or a malfunction of the tram's braking system, with the initial analysis of a so-called black box data recorder showing there was 'some breaking' in the run up to the crash in south London. 

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Teenager Dane Chinnery (left) and mother-of-two Dorota Rynkiewicz (right) were both killed

Survivors of the disaster said they heard 'crying and screaming' in the moments after the crash

Victims Donald Collett, 62, of Croydon (left) and Philip Logan (right), 52, from New Addington

Gathering evidence: Forensic teams and accident investigators at the crash scene last week

This slowed the two-car carriage slightly, but only from 50mph to 43.5mph as the tram approached the bend at Sandilands Junction at 6.07am on November 9.

In the aftermath, screaming and crying could be heard from the wreckage as the scale of the disaster became clear. One survivor later re-lived in harrowing detail how a dead body ended up on top of him in a carriage soaked with blood.

Seven people lost their lives, eight of the 51 who were injured suffered serious or life threatening injuries and several passengers had to have limbs amputated.   

Urgent safety advice has now been issued to reduce the risk of trams arriving too fast at the junction in south London, as investigators probe a claim on social media that a tram 'lifted onto one side' at 40mph in the same area a week earlier.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) published its initial findings into the crash today, with a full report not expected for several months. It is understood that establishing if the driver was asleep or had blacked out are lines of inquiry.

Investigators also issued 'urgent safety advice' to First Group, which carries out the day-to-day operation of the trams, and Transport for London, which manages the overall performance of the network.

Both organisations were urged to take measures to reduce the risk of trams approaching the location of the crash 'at an excessive speed' once the line is reopened.

This could be done with a further speed restriction before the start of the 12mph limit and additional warning signs, the report suggested.

Last week the tram's driver, Alfred Dorris, 42, from Beckenham, south London, was arrested at the scene and was questioned on suspicion of manslaughter before being bailed until May.

Detectives are said to be going through his phone records after it was claimed he was typing a text at the time, The Sun on Sunday reported.

They are also examining a report a tram 'lifted onto one side' at 40mph in the same area on October 31.

Meanwhile, a source close to the probe suggested it was believed Mr Dorris fell on the accelerator after blacking out, according to the Sunday Mirror.

Six men and one woman died, while of the 51 injured eight suffered serious or life threatening injuries and several passengers had limbs amputated. The driver was the only member of staff onboard.

The seven victims of the crash were Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Logan, 52, Philip Seary, 57, Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, and Robert Huxley, 63, all from New Addington, and Mark Smith, 35 and Donald Collett, 62, both from Croydon. 

Mark Smith (pictured left) and Phil Seary (right) were among the victims of the Croydon crash

Map: The incident happened near Sandilands tram stop in Croydon, south London (pictured)

The RAIB said it was dark and raining heavily at the time of the crash but there is a reflective board noting the speed restriction.

After leaving the previous station at Lloyd Park the tram travelled at up to 50mph in accordance with speed restriction.

But the report says it entered the curve on the approach to Sandilands Junction at 43.5mph. Experts say it travelled for more than 80ft on its right side after derailing.

The tram was fitted with forward facing and internal CCTV cameras, which were not working at the time, and an On Tram Data Recorder.

Chief inspector of Rail Accidents, Simon French, said today: 'Our interim report sets out what we found during our site examination and in the days that followed.

'The tram was travelling at 70km/h (43.5 mph) on a curve with a speed limit of 20km/h (12.5 mph). 

Victim Robert Huxley, 63, was described as a 'loving husband' by his heartbroken family

'We have found no evidence of track defects or obstructions and our initial investigation does not indicate any malfunction of the tram's braking system.'

He added: 'We have issued urgent safety advice to reduce the risk of trams approaching Sandilands Junction at excessive speed.

'Our ongoing detailed investigation will now look at the wider context of the accident, including the sequence of events, the way the tram was driven, the infrastructure and how people received their injuries.

'We will also be looking into previous occurrences of over-speeding in this area and underlying management issues.

'Our final report will include recommendations to reduce the likelihood and consequences of similar events occurring in the future.'

After the initial report the RAIB will also be investigating events following the accident, including the emergency response and how passengers evacuated from the tram.

It will also look at the way in which the tram was being driven, the design, configuration and condition of the infrastructure, the tram's behaviour during the derailment and how people sustained their injuries as well as any previous speeding incidents at Sandilands Junction. 

A spokeswoman for First Group, which carries out the day-to-day operation of the trams, said the tram driver Mr Dorris had worked at the company since March 2008.

Survivor Rui De Sa, 31, said the interim report shows that more health and safety measures should be put in place to ensure future accidents are avoided.

Mr De Sa, who lives in New Adddington but is originally from Portugal, has suffered flash backs to the horrific crash.

The builder said today: 'The report makes me feel like they should improve the safety - it was going three and a half times the speed limit.

TRAM PASSENGER CLAIMS CARRIAGE 'LIFTED ONTO ONE SIDE' ON THE SAME STRETCH OF TRACK A WEEK BEFORE THE CRASH

Andy Nias posted this message on Facebook following the fatal Croydon crash. He claimed he was on a tram which 'lifted onto one side' the week before on the same stretch of track

A passenger travelling on a tram on the same stretch of track a week before the Croydon crash told how he was left shaken after he claimed it 'lifted onto one side'.

Andy Nias wrote on Facebook that he and 29 fellow travellers feared the worst when their tram 'took the hard corner to Sandilands at 40mph'.

He said on October 31: 'Oh mate...30 of us on the tram this morning and we all thought our time was up...tram driver took the hard corner to Sandilands at 40mph!! 

'I swear the tram lifted onto one side. Everyone still shaking...it's mad.' 

Locals have raised concerns about the speeds trams can travel at the corner where the carriages derailed.

Pat Rooke, 72, a nearby resident, said 'They (some trams) do come around that corner very fast sometimes, and it is quite a sharp bend.'

Sue Patel, who lives near the station, added: 'I heard a noise at around 6 o'clock and I thought maybe it was a car or something. But then I saw there were helicopters.'

'There's quite a big bend. You come through the tunnel and there's quite a sharp bend.' 

In February 2012 a tram, carrying 100 passengers, also derailed on the line but no one was hurt. The accident happened about half a mile from today's fatal crash. 

'It could have been avoided - seven people lost their lives and they really need to work on improving the safety, invest in it.

'It happened at 6am - this wasn't the busiest time. Imagine if it was 7am and the school kids were on the tram?'

He added: 'I have avoided the tram since. On Monday I came back to work, to keep busy, and try and forget about it, but I had flash backs in the afternoon. It is horrible.'

His wife, Susana Gaiao, 35, said: 'My husband did realise it was travelling too fast but he said he was surprised that it was going three times the limit.

'It just beggars belief to us as a family that there isn't anything to slow the tram down.

'There are all these questions in our head and it will take a while to get answers. We are angry it happened but not angry at anyone in particular. You can't place the blame on anyone yet - there aren't enough answers. 

'We want to know why it was speeding.

'We do consider ourselves very lucky. My children are glad their dad is there at night. But some people have lost people. We feel lucky.'

Many social media users have criticised Transport for London for the lack of working CCTV on the tram.

Jillian King said on a facebook page: 'I was under the impression that any equipment fitted should be checked before the tram started out.

'CCTV is there for a reason maybe TFL would like to answer why such an oversight.'

The tram is taken away from the scene last Saturday, three days after the fatal crash happened

Engineers worked at the crash site to safely remove the tram carriages and repair the lines

Six men and one woman died and more than 50 people were injured when the tram overturned

The RAIB is the UK’s independent body for the investigation of tramway and railway accidents. Its investigation is separate from any that may be carried out by the British Transport Police or the Office of Rail and Road.

Meanwhile, Transport for London has offered to pay for the funerals of those who died, pledging to do 'everything we can to support the families and all those affected'.

An inquest into their deaths is due to be opened on Monday by the south London coroner. 

Mike Brown, London's Transport Commissioner, said: 'This includes covering funeral costs and travel expenses for relatives.

'The TfL Sarah Hope line is available 24 hours a day to provide advice on a whole range of matters and immediate financial and other support.'

This afternoon he described the RAIB's interim investigation as 'thorough and swift' and confirmed that additional temporary speed restrictions and signage would be implemented 'to supplement existing safety arrangements'.

He said TfL is carrying out a 'thorough safety assessment and taking advice from an independent panel of tram experts'.

Engineers have repaired the track and associated equipment, and trams have run over that section of the line.

But Mr Brown said services will only resume once a 'rigorous assurance process' has been completed.