Wreckage of derailed train to be lifted from crash site
THE wreckage of a train that crashed last month killing three people is to be removed as work continues to reopen the line.
The ScotRail service from Aberdeen to Glasgow derailed after hitting a landslip thought to have been caused by torrential rain.
As the train tried to return to Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, it left the tracks a few miles south of the town before hitting hit a bridge parapet at more than 70mph.
The engine and one carriage then plunged down a steep embankment. Two other carriages were left lying across the track, while a fourth carriage and the rear power car stayed upright.
Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, were killed in the accident on August 12.
Network Rail yesterday said engineers will use a 600-ton crane to remove the wreckage over the next few days.
The recovery process has involved building a road and temporary bridges over surrounding farmland to bring equipment to the remote site.
SCOTRAIL managing director Alex Hynes said yesterday: ‘August 12 was a devastating day with the loss of Brett, Donald and Christopher in this tragic accident. While we will now begin the process of recovering the carriages and repairing the railway, we do so with a heavy heart.
‘We will continue to work closely with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch throughout this recovery process so we can learn from this terrible event and help prevent similar accidents.’
Transport Minister Michael Matheson also visited the accident site yesterday.
He said: ‘My thoughts continue to remain with the family and friends of those affected by this tragic incident. I’m here today to understand the scale of the work being undertaken.
‘The RAIB investigation will ensure that any safety lessons are learned quickly and I will be interested to hear what comes of this and how Network Rail can take these forward in the future. An investigation of this type is so comprehensive and it will now take time to restore the site of the incident so rail services can be reintroduced as soon as possible.’
Once the wreckage has been removed from the crash scene, engineers will be able to assess the extent of repairs needed to the tracks and bridge damaged in the derailment.
Following the accident, hundreds of sites nationwide were inspected amid fears that more extreme weather could cause landslips that put trains at risk.
Network Rail has also launched two taskforces, led by independent experts, as part of its response to climate change and the challenge of maintaining the railway infrastructure, much of which dates from the Victorian era.