A PASSENGER watchdog is calling on transport bosses to take immediate action over safety fears on the tram system connecting Bromley with other parts of south London.

London TravelWatch has written to Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy in the wake of a report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) into a tram derailment, in May last year.

The report highlights the poor relationship between Tramtrack Croydon Limited (TCL), which has a 99-year contract with Transport for London (TfL) to build and operate the tram system, and Tram Operations Limited (TOL), which operates the tram system on a day-to-day basis on behalf of TCL.

Brian Cooke, chairman of London TravelWatch and a Bromley resident, said: "Whatever the relationship between the various companies running the tram, they must not be allowed to have an impact on safety.

"Safety must always be the number one priority for any transport system. Passengers and road users will be very concerned with the findings of the highly respected RAIB.

"Public transport in London has an excellent overall safety record. TfL must ensure that this is not put in jeopardy because there are difficult relationships within a part of the transport system for which it is ultimately responsible."

* Full story in next week's Bromley Extra.