Stablisation and drainage work carried out at Carmont in 2010

Network Rail rebuilt drains around Carmont in 2010 and 2011, as part of a £1.8 million project. It also stabilised the cutting sides with rock nails and installed nets to catch falling debris.

The work included a 500-metre crest drain along the edge of the field above the track.

An August 21 update from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch revealed that this drain joins another that runs diagonally down a steep slope, passing two access chambers, before discharging into a tracklevel ditch that takes water northwards towards Carron Water (see separate story).

Its investigation will look at how NR managed earthworks and drainage, including recent inspections and risk assessments. NR told RAIL the drain was last inspected in May.

RAIB’s update revealed that ScotRail’s 0638 AberdeenGlasgow HST reached 72.8mph after leaving Carmont signal box to return to Aberdeen at 0936. It said that at around 0938, it struck a landslip covering the northbound line and derailed.

The update said: “As the track curved to the right, the train continued in a roughly straight line for around 77 yards (70 metres) until it struck a section of bridge parapet, which was destroyed.

“The leading power car continued most of the way over the bridge and fell from the railway down a wooded embankment, as did the third passenger carriage.”

It confirmed that heavy rain fell on the morning of the accident (see separate story). By the time of the accident, the rain had cleared and there was bright sunshine.

As reported in RAIL 912, the train waited at Carmont for two hours after its passage south was halted by the signaller at 0700, after reports of a landslip further south.