Stonehaven derailment
Stonehaven derailment | |
---|---|
Dundee–Aberdeen | |
Operator | Abellio ScotRail |
Service | 1T08 06:38 Aberdeen to Glasgow |
Incident type | Derailment |
Cause | Train striking landslip |
Statistics | |
Trains | 1 |
Passengers | 7 |
Crew | 2 |
Deaths | 3 |
Injured | 6 (3 serious) |
List of UK rail accidents by year |
The Stonehaven derailment was a fatal
The accident was the first in the United Kingdom in which a passenger was killed on a train since the 2007 Grayrigg derailment, the first major accident involving a High Speed Train (HST) since the 2004 Ufton Nervet rail crash, and the first fatal accident in which a train hit a landslip since the 1995 Ais Gill rail accident.
Network Rail faced health and safety charges relating to the crash. After pleading guilty at the High Court in Aberdeen in September 2023, the company was fined £6.7 million for its failings.
Background
Severe thunderstorms occurred in the area on the night of 11 August, during an amber severe weather warning from the Met Office.[1] The storms caused flooding across Aberdeenshire on the morning of the derailment. Flooding in the local area saw water levels on Carron Water in Stonehaven rise by 1.54 metres (5 ft 1 in) as of 09:00, 12 August.[2] The severe weather had caused significant disruption across East Scotland with a number of other rail services being either curtailed or cancelled.[3] A total of 51.5 millimetres (2.03 in) of rainfall fell at the accident site.[4] The storms also caused disruption further afield. Perth station was severely flooded, with a train being trapped in the water.[5] The Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk line was severely affected when the bank of the Union Canal failed, flooding the line near Polmont.[6]
The stretch of the
Incident
On 12 August 2020,
Whilst travelling south on the double track main line which runs between Aberdeen and Dundee,
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Stonehaven_derailment_2.png/220px-Stonehaven_derailment_2.png)
As the track curved to the right, the train continued straight on for about 77 yards (70 m).[16] It struck and destroyed the parapet of a single span bridge carrying the railway over Carron Water.[13][e] The leading power car then fell down a wooded embankment and caught fire.[13][21] The first carriage turned sideways, coming to rest across the tracks, inverted, with the second carriage, also inverted, and the fourth, lying on top of it. The third carriage ended up lying on its side, also down the embankment,[13] and caught fire.[22] The rear power car remained substantially upright and coupled to the fourth carriage.[13] The landslip had been caused by the failure of a drain which Network Rail had installed in 2012 and had last been inspected in June 2020, when no faults had been found.[23]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Signal_box_at_Carmont_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_177422_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Signal_box_at_Carmont_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_177422_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Contractors were working to protect the bridge over the River Carron at the time, and were able to avoid being hit by the derailed vehicles. Their supervisor raised the alarm by a 999 call at 09:40.[4] The railway employee who had been travelling as a passenger, despite suffering minor injuries herself,[15] walked back along the track to the nearest line-side telephone, to raise the alarm to Carmont signal box, 1.5 miles down the line.[24][25] Following the initial incident, thick smoke was visible from the crash site.[3]
Three people died: the driver, the conductor, and a passenger.[3] The six survivors were all injured, three seriously.[26] One woman was flung through a window of coach B and came to lying beside the tracks.[27] The accident was the first involving the fatality of a passenger on a train in the United Kingdom since the Grayrigg derailment on 23 February 2007,[21][f] and the first major accident involving an HST in the United Kingdom since the Ufton Nervet rail crash on 6 November 2004.[28] It was the first railway accident in the United Kingdom in which someone died after a train hit a landslip since the 1995 Ais Gill rail accident.[29]
Response
British Transport Police were alerted to the incident at about 09:43, and a major incident was declared.[3] The alarm was raised by a Network Rail worker who used the what3words app to give a 999-call operator the location of the accident.[30]
Multiple
At the time of the accident, engineering works were ongoing, to repair and reinforce the foundations of the railway bridge, which had deteriorated and suffering from water scour of the footings.[35][36] The firefighting and casualty evacuation response was greatly aided by the temporary access road, standing area and ramp constructed as part of these works.[citation needed] Smoke from the fire was blown away from the emergency services assembly point at the top of the temporary ramp.[3]
On 14 August,
In September, the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, asked the chief constable of Police Scotland to commend PC Liam Mercer, of Stonehaven police station, who was first on the scene, for his bravery.[39][40] He had earlier described Mercer's actions as "extraordinary and humbling".[40] Nicola Whyte, the off-duty conductor who walked along the tracks to raise the alarm, was given a "special recognition" at the Evening Express' Aberdeen's Champion Awards.[25]
Aftermath
The
A week after the accident, a
The railway between Aberdeen and Dundee was originally expected to remain closed until mid-September.[45] Buses replaced trains between these stations.[46] On 28 August, it was announced that the line would remain closed for "several more weeks".[47] An October date was later given.[48] From 31 August, trains were reinstated between Aberdeen and Stonehaven.[46] ScotRail cited train crew availability and train fuel capacity as the reasons that rail services could not be reinstated between Dundee and Montrose.[49] On 30 October, Network Rail announced that the line would re-open on 3 November.[50]
Work to remove the vehicles from the crash site, made difficult by the surrounding terrain, began on 10 September
Following the publication of their final report by the RAIB in March 2022, drivers'
Following the publishing of the RAIBs final report in March 2022, Transport Scotland announced that a steering group was being set up to drive safety improvements on railways in Scotland. In July, it was revealed that the group had still not met, a situation criticised by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.[61]
![a simple plaque in brushed steel on a wooden backing, which reads "This plaque is dedicated to the memories of Donald Dinnie, Brett McCullough, Christopher Stuchbury who lost their lives in a derailment at Carmont on 12 August 2020"](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Commemorative_plaque_to_those_who_died_in_the_Carmont_derailment.jpg/220px-Commemorative_plaque_to_those_who_died_in_the_Carmont_derailment.jpg)
A plaque commemorating the three dead was placed adjacent to the war memorial at Aberdeen station.[62]
Investigations
There was a joint investigation by the ORR, Police Scotland, and the British Transport Police, directed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.[63] In parallel the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) carried out an independent investigation.[63] Inspectors from both the ORR and RAIB were dispatched to the site on 12 August 2020.[64][65] The RAIB expected to conclude its on-site investigation in early September.[47]
On 13 August 2020, the then Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, ordered Network Rail to produce an interim report on the "wider issues" that may have resulted in the crash.[66] The interim report was duly published on 1 September that year.[23] He also asked Network Rail to carry out resilience checks on other areas of the network potentially subject to flash flooding in "the next few days, few hours". A final report was expected later in 2020.[66] On 25 August, Network Rail set up two new task forces, one aimed at improving its response to severe weather and the other aimed at better management of earthworks.[67] The reports of both task forces were published in March 2021.[68]
On 14 August 2020, the RAIB provided an initial report on the accident and provided details of the likely scope of their investigation.[13] An update was issued on 21 August 2020.[16] On 15 August that year, the chief inspector of rail accidents, Simon French, said the derailment would have been "much worse had the train been more heavily loaded" but that it was "amongst the worst" he had seen over his 16 years with the RAIB. He added: "To be sure about this, we need data from the train, and we are working with the other agencies here on-site to gain access to the data recorder, but given the circumstances it's a difficult task and it will be some time."[69]
On 19 April 2021, the RAIB issued an interim report.[4] On 10 March 2022, the final report was published.[26] It was reported that the investigation recognised several factors that contributed to the accident, including faulty drainage systems, which, in 2011/2012, Carillion failed to construct to the required design.[70] Carillion had failed to notify designers Arup or Network Rail that they had made changes to the design of the drainage.[71] Other factors identified included the workload pressure on the Scotland route control team that day, the age of the train, and a lack of adequate training for the train's personnel.[72] The RAIB made 20 recommendations in its final report.[26]
In August 2022, Police Scotland announced that the joint ORR, Police Scotland and British Transport Police investigation had concluded, and a report had been submitted to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.[73]
Prosecution
It was reported in January 2023 that Network Rail was to face health and safety charges, but not corporate homicide charges, in relation to the crash.[g][74] At the High Court in Aberdeen on 7 September 2023, Network Rail admitted health and safety failings over the crash,[75] whereby they failed to ensure that the drainage works had been carried out correctly.[76] Network Rail were fined £6.7 million.[77] Network Rail Scotland issued a statement, quoting Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland's Railway:[78]
The Carmont derailment and the tragic loss of Christopher Stuchbury, Donald Dinnie and Brett McCullough was a terrible day for their families, everyone involved, and for the railway network.
It is clear that our infrastructure was at fault for the accident, so it is right that Network Rail pled guilty.
To the families of those who lost their lives we would say again how deeply sorry we are that this tragedy was able to happen. And to those survivors who were injured, we are very sorry for the pain and distress caused.
Since the accident, we have been working hard to make our railway safer and to learn the lessons of Carmont.
We are absolutely committed to delivering on the recommendations made by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch in its report into the accident.
In October 2023 it was reported that Network Rail paid "nearly £1 million" in compensation to crash victims in out-of-court settlements following civil action.[79][80]
References
- ^ Met Office [@metoffice] (11 August 2020). "Amber Weather Warning issued [...] Severe #thunderstorms are possible tonight and for a time tomorrow morning across the east of Scotland" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 August 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "SEPA Water Levels - Carron Water @ Carron (Stonehaven)". SEPA. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Three dead after passenger train derails near Stonehaven". BBC News. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Derailment of a passenger train at Carmont, Aberdeenshire 12 August 2020" (PDF). Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- JPIMedia. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
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- ^ a b "Latest on passenger train derailment near Stonehaven". BBC News. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ Route Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation Plans - Scotland (PDF). Network Rail. 2014. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ Annual Report of Health and Safety Performance on Britain's Railways 2019/20 (PDF). Office of Rail and Road. 2020. pp. 21, 22.
- ^ "Stonehaven crash: Network Rail was warned about potential problems across UK four weeks before train derailment". Sky News. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ @networkrailscot (12 August 2020). "At Carmont, we've had reports of a landslip, which means services can't operate between Dundee & Aberdeen. /2" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Keith, Jake (13 August 2020). "Train driver and conductor killed in Stonehaven derailment named". The Courier. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Passenger train derailment near Carmont, Aberdeenshire". Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ ISSN 0953-4563.
- ^ a b Robertson, Kirsten (14 August 2020). "Stonehaven train crash: Praise for 'heroic' Huntly woman who hobbled miles to raise alarm after tragedy". Press and Journal. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Passenger train derailment near Carmont – updated 21/08/2020". Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ ISSN 0033-8923.
- ^ a b Dalton, Alastair. "Stonehaven: Three dead after ScotRail train derailment in Aberdeenshire". The Scotsman. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "Coordinate Distance Calculator". boulter.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "Scotland Route Sectional Appendix" (PDF). Retrieved 14 August 2020.[permanent dead link]
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- ^ "Investigation into fatal train derailment begins". BBC News. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
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- ^ "Stonehaven Train Crash: Crew Member 'Walked a Mile' Along Tracks to Raise Alarm". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ a b Ollerola, Danica (26 September 2020). "Brave ScotRail conductor Nicola Whyte receives special recognition accolade at Aberdeen's Champion Awards". Evening Express. Aberdeen: Aberdeen Journals Ltd. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ Wikidata Q111363195, retrieved 10 March 2022
- ^ "Stonehaven crash victim 'was talking to me one minute and gone the next'". BBC News. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
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- ^ Haslam, Dale. "How what3words app played vital role in Stonehaven rail crash aftermath". Press and Journal. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ @fire_scot (12 August 2020). "We were alerted at 9.47am on Wednesday, August 12 to reports of an incident involving a train near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire. Operations Control mobilised 12 appliances and specialist resources to the scene as part of a multi-agency response. Crews presently remain in attendance" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ ISSN 0953-4563.
- ^ "Three people have sadly died following train derailment - Scotland". British Transport Police. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ "Stonehaven train derailment: One person remains in hospital". BBC News. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ "Planning Application APP/2019/1384 Approved UB 133/325 River Carron Proposed Plan". Aberdeenshire Council.
- ^ "Planning Application APP/2019/1384 River Carron Access". Aberdeenshire Council.
- ^ "Crash investigators confirm train struck landslip". BBC News. 14 August 2020.
- ^ "Stonehaven Train Crash: Prince Charles Visits Aberdeenshire Site of Fatal Derailment". The Scotsman.
- ^ "Stonehaven derailment: Report says climate change impact on railways 'accelerating'". BBC News. BBC News. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ a b Campsie, Alison (14 August 2020). "From the heroes to Those Lost: Tributes Flow After Rail Disaster". The Scotsman. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ "Scottish Sun article headlined "Death Express"". Independent Press Standards Organisation. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
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- ^ The British Transport Police History Group [@BtpHistory] (28 April 2023). "Passed through Aberdeen Railway Station yesterday for the first time in a long time and was pleased to see a plaque dedicated to Donald, Brett and Christopher who died in the derailment at Carmont in 2020 has been placed beside the War Memorial" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 July 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Stonehaven train derailment: What we know". BBC News. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ RAIB [@raibgovuk] (12 August 2020). "We have been notified of a derailment in the Stonehaven area of Aberdeenshire where a five car passenger train has derailed. A team of RAIB inspectors are on their way to the site to conduct a preliminary examination" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ ORR [@railandroad] (12 August 2020). "We're aware of an incident involving a train derailment in Stonehaven. Emergency services are in attendance and an ORR inspector will be attending. We will work with @raibgovuk, @BTP and the emergency services to investigate the full circumstances of what has happened" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Train derailment driver's death 'leaves huge void'". BBC News. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
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Notes
- ^ The train was formed of 43030 at the south, Trailer Standard (Open) Lavatory 41245, Trailer Standard (Open) 42564, Trailer Standard Disabled (Open) 42007, Trailer Guard First Buffet 40622 and 43140, the whole forming set HA22.[14]
- ^ Carmont Signal Box: 56°56′20″N 2°21′01″W / 56.938964°N 2.350288°W
- ^ Carmont crossover: 56°56′19″N 2°21′02″W / 56.93851°N 2.35049°W
- ^ By rail; calculated from Scotland Route Sectional Appendix.[20]
- ^ Bridge reference: UB 133/325
- ^ A fatal tram crash in Croydon in 2016 killed seven people.
- ^ Carillion went into liquidation in January 2018.
External links
- ScotRail incident page
- RAIB report (298 pages)
- Synopsis of report (36 pages)