Croydon will hold a public ceremony in New Addington on 9 November to mark ten years since the Sandilands tram derailment, in which seven people lost their lives and more than 60 were injured. The council has set the ceremony for 11am at Market Square, Central Parade.
The gathering will remember those who died in the 2016 incident and acknowledge its continuing effect on families, survivors and the wider community. The council says residents, loved ones, community representatives and civic leaders are expected to attend. Croydon’s Civic Mayor, Councillor Mohammed Islam, and Executive Mayor Jason Perry are due to be joined by some people directly affected, survivors, representatives of agencies involved in the response, local businesses and community leaders.
A ceremony of names, silence and flowers
The programme will begin with a reading of the names of the seven people who died: Dane Chinnery, Donald Collett, Robert Huxley, Philip Logan, Dorota Rynkiewicz, Philip Seary and Mark Smith. A period of silence will follow, before floral tributes are laid.
The event is planned for the tenth anniversary itself. The derailment happened on 9 November 2016 near Sandilands, when a tram overturned. The council’s announcement describes the ceremony as an opportunity to remember those who died and reflect on the lasting impact of that day. It is a commemorative gathering, not an announcement of a new investigation or safety finding.
New Addington has hosted annual civic remembrances in previous years. The format has varied: a ceremony in 2025 was held at 1pm because the anniversary fell on Remembrance Sunday, while the 2024 service included a prayer and singing by local school pupils. For this year, the council has specified a name-reading, silence and floral tributes. These are details of the forthcoming programme, rather than a report that the ceremony has already taken place.
Remembering the 2016 derailment
The national rail accident investigation recorded seven deaths and 61 injuries among the 69 passengers involved. That precise figure sits behind the council’s description of more than 60 people injured. The official investigation into the accident was published in 2017; its findings belong to that completed investigation and are not new developments announced alongside this anniversary event.
Keeping the focus on the people who died and those affected, the council has named all seven victims in its announcement. The ceremony’s structure gives those names a central place, followed by a shared pause and the laying of flowers. Its planned attendance also brings together civic representatives, members of the community and people connected to the response and aftermath.
Anniversaries can be difficult for people affected by a traumatic event. The council has signposted the Sarah Hope Line, which offers practical and emotional support to people affected by serious incidents on the Transport for London network. It is available on weekdays from 8am to 6pm at 0343 222 5678. Croydon Talking Therapies also provides psychological therapies for adults aged 18 and over who are registered with a Croydon GP.
The public ceremony is scheduled for Monday 9 November 2026 at Market Square, Central Parade, New Addington. The council says those attending will gather at 11am to remember the seven people who lost their lives and to pay tribute to everyone continuing to live with the consequences of the derailment.
