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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Paul Britton

Video: Reckless teenager risks his life as he talks on his phone whilst tram-surfing

Talking on his mobile phone seemingly without a care in the world, this reckless teenager risks his life by riding on a rush-hour Metrolink tram.

It's the latest in a worrying and dangerous trend of so-called 'tram-surfing'.

The footage was filmed by a passenger on board a 5pm tram from Manchester to Rochdale on Monday.

Senior transport bosses said the youngster's behaviour 'defies logic' - and warned someone would be killed if the trend doesn't stop.

Bus driver Kayman Grant, who took the footage, said he hoped the boy's parents and school would see the footage - and take action.

"Sooner rather than later someone is going to be killed," he said.

The youngster is believed to have been sitting on a coupling at the front of the third carriage in a tram service comprising of four.

Transport bosses have issued an urgent warning (Kayman Grant)

Mr Grant, 59, from Rochdale, said the boy clambered off the tram at the Rochdale stop then calmly walked away.

His concern echoes that of transport bosses who have issued numerous warnings.

In March, figures from Transport for Greater Manchester revealed there were 63 'tram-surfing' incidents recorded since June last year, with the figure now likely to have risen even further.

Some of those involved were reportedly aged as young as 11.

It's understood he left the tram at Rochdale (Kayman Grant)

Mr Grant said he filmed the boy not to shame him, but to highlight the issue and his behaviour.

He believes the youngster may have jumped on the coupling in the Newbold area of Rochdale.

"If you fall off a tram travelling at up to 30mph with two carriages behind you, there is going to be nothing left of you," said Mr Grant, who was coming home from work.

"Then you have to talk about the aftermath - the driver, the passengers who have seen what has happened and most importantly, his parents and the boy's family.

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"I do not know where he got on but it was filmed just past Morrisons in the Newbold area going into Rochdale.

"If he had fallen, he would have been killed.

"He appears to be talking to someone on the phone and seems really calm, as if this is a daily occurance. Lots of passengers saw him.

"He got off at Rochdale station and just walked off."

Mr Grant said he believed the driver was alerted to the boy's presence, but said he wasn't clear when that happened and at what point in the journey.

"Someone knocked at the driver's door," he said.

TfGM's head of Metrolink, Danny Vaughan, said: "This type of behaviour defies logic.

"It is exceptionally dangerous and will, if it does not stop, end up with someone getting killed. That is the last thing we want and why we ran a campaign in March to warn of the risks and consequences of ‘tram surfing’ and why it features so prominently in our youth engagement programme.

"It is also why we worked with the operator to implement new procedures for drivers and staff and why we are looking at other ways to deter and prevent this from happening.

"I would ask that, rather than filming incidents like this, people contact us via the help points on trams or at stops, so that we can safely bring the tram to a stop. I'd also ask parents to help us by educating their children about how dangers this is."

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