METROLINK operators have been told to tighten up their "command controls" after two trams ended up on the same line.

The drama happened on May 30 in Crumpsall when two trams came to a halt just 50 metres apart.

An independent panel has been examining the lead-up to the incident when staff were trying to cope with "an unprecedented number of problems", from tram breakdowns to signal failures. The stress led to some protocols and procedures not being followed as accurately as usual.

The report says that, even under the worst possible conditions, it was highly unlikely that a collision would have occurred. It cites a good safety culture within Serco Metrolink.

Serco Metrolink operates Metrolink on behalf of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), which owns and is responsible for planning the future expansion of the Metrolink network.

Geoff Inskip, GMPTE's deputy director general and Metrolink project director, said: "Metrolink has an excellent reputation for safety and it took an unusual combination of circumstances to create this incident. However, lessons must be learnt."

Phil Smith, managing director of Serco Metrolink, commented: "We will be working closely with GMPTE to implement the recommendations to ensure we continue to provide our customers with a safe and reliable tram network."