3 KILLED IN TRAIN HORROR
Landslide on flood-hit line derails locomotive which bursts into flames
THREE people died when a train was derailed by a landslide and burst into flames in a horror crash yesterday.
Brett McCullough, right, a train driver, was named locally as a victim of the accident in Aberdeenshire.
One colleague said he had a young family and was “a lovely man.”
A conductor also died, the RMT said.
THREE people died yesterday when an intercity train was derailed and burst into flames after a night of torrential rain and thunderstorms.
It is believed the 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow service hit a landslip caused by the freak weather and severe flooding.
Its locomotive and three of the four carriages came off the tracks, near Carmont station in Aberdeenshire.
At least one carriage overturned and landed on its roof and thick smoke was seen rising above the scene.
British Transport Police confirmed the driver and two other people were pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the victims was named locally as train driver Brett McCullough.
At the family home, in Drumlithie, on the outskirts of nearby Stonehaven, his grief-stricken wife, Stephanie, confirmed Mr McCullough had died.
One of his colleagues said: “He has a young family. He’s been in the railways about six years and is a lovely man.”
The RMT said the train’s conductor was also among the fatalities.
Mick Lynch, from the union, said: “The confirmation there have been three fatalities, including the driver and one of our conductor members, is dreadful news.”
Six people were taken to hospital, but their injuries were not said to be serious.
A search was being carried out last night to ensure all those on board had been found
BTP Chief Supt Eddie Wylie said: “We remain on scene alongside our emergency service colleagues, and a major incident operation [is] under way.
“This was not a busy service, and we believe all passengers have been accounted for.
“However, once the area has been made safe a full search will be conducted, which is likely to take some time.”
The Queen and Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon , sent their condolences to the victims’s families, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “saddened” by the tragedy.
Transport Secretary
Grant Shapps said he was still waiting for a clearer picture of the “very, very tragic” incident and that he would visit the scene today.
He told the BBC: “There has been some very extreme weather and concerns about landslips.
“One of the things I have done is convene emergency meetings to ensure we look into that, specifically, along the line in other locations, to make certain.” News began to emerge of the accident after Network Rail said on Twitter at 9.49am: “At Carmont, we’ve had reports of a landslip.”
Police had said reports of the derailment were first received at 9.40am.
It is understood the train had been brought to a halt by flooding on the line as it travelled south and had reversed to change tracks.
It then hit the landslide and derailed.
About 30 emergency vehicles, including an air ambulance, rushed to the scene after the derailment.
Coastguard crews and their search helicopter were also brought in, due to the difficult terrain and conditions. One union described the incident as a tragedy and warned about pressure on track maintenance workers.
As a major incident was declared at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Manuel Cortes, of Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, said: “We’ve had concerns about the hours some of our members who maintain have been doing. However, it’s far too early to speculate whether this may have been a contributing factor.”
Kevin Lindsay, Scotland organiser for train drivers union Aslef said: “It would seem appalling weather conditions resulted in a landslip which caused the
The train rolled down a steep slope and then caught fire ASLEF’S KEVIN LINDSAY SPEAKING YESTERDAY
train to derail. The train rolled down a steep embankment, and caught fire.
“Despite the best efforts of the driver, and crew, and the subsequent efforts of the emergency services who attended, we understand that three people died.”
A train derailed near the site of Wednesday’s crash in October 2018. No one was injured but the incident caused major disruption to travel.
Just four weeks ago, an annual health and safety report by the Office of Rail and Road said there were six times more flooding events on railways in 2019-20 than in the previous 12 months.
It said a spike in landslips, showed the “vulnerability” of the network. Yesterday’s crash came as UK streets were turned into rivers and properties were set on fire by lightning as the miniheatwave came to an end.
A month’s rainfall in three hours in some areas with thunderstorms, while Scotland was hit by 17,000 lightning strikes. Local MP Andrew Bowie, inspecting flood damage near the crash scene, said: “The situation was really bad. The River Carron burst its banks.”
Communities further south today face flash flooding with up to three inches of rain – about a month’s worth – forecast for southern England.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said last night it had sent inspectors to the site of the crash.
“We have launched an investigation and will provide an update in the coming days,” a spokesman added.
The last person to die on the UK’s railways was Margaret Masson, 84.
She was killed on the Virgin Pendolino, which crashed at 94mph before rolling down a 50ft embankment at Grayrigg, Cumbria in 2007.