Train hit landslip at 73mph, fatal accident report states

THE train in the Stonehaven rail crash that left three men dead was travelling at almost 73mph before it hit a landslip, an official report disclosed yesterday.

An initial report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch stated that the Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street service had reached 72.8mph on Wednesday last week, when the accident happened. This was said to be within the maximum of 75mph allowed on that part of the line. The train derailed following heavy rainfall.

The driver, Brett Mccullough, 45, his conductor, Donald Dinnie, 58, and Christopher Stuchbury, 62, a passenger, died near Stonehaven. Six others were injured in the crash.

The investigation branch found the train reached 72.8mph after it was stopped by a signaller after passing Carmont, near Stonehaven, because a landslip had been reported ahead of it.

After departing from Stonehaven, the train was stopped by the signaller at Carmont at 6:59am due to reports a landslip was obstructing the line.

A decision was taken to run the train to Stonehaven and at 9:25am the driver was given permission to start moving north.

After reaching speeds of 72.8mph, the train “struck a landslip covering the down line and derailed” at around 9:38am, the report said.

The investigation branch is collecting evidence needed to identify factors relevant to the cause of the accident and its consequences.

Its investigation is likely to include the sequence of events and the actions of those involved, the operating procedures applied and the management of earthworks and drainage in the area.

Investigators will also examine the behaviour of the train during and after the derailment, the damage caused to the rolling stock and actions taken in response to previous safety recommendations.