Gilruth pays tribute to rail crash victims
Transport minister Jenny Gilruth has expressed her “profound condolences” to the family and friends of three men killed in the “tragic and shocking crash” in Aberdeenshire when a train derailed after hitting debris washed onto tracks after a downpour.
She said the driver, Brett Mccullough, had lived just 15 minutes from the crash site at Carmont, near Stonehaven.
Ms Gilruth told MSPS: “He was only 45 and had moved from Kent to make his life in Aberdeenshire.
"He had been a train driver for six years and was very popular at the Aberdeen depot.”
The minster said one of the most most important findings of the final report by the UK Department for Transport’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) published today was “there was nothing in the way that Brett Mccullough was driving the train which caused the accident – he was driving within the rules and instruction given to him”.
“Donald Dinnie [the conductor] was 58.
"His RMT [Rail, Maritime and Transport union] branch in Aberdeen paid tribute to him as someone who lit up the room with funny stories and wit.
"Christopher Stutchbury was 62. He came from Aberdeen and was an integral member of the Targe Towing Team, as well as a volunteer at a specialist palliative unit.
“All three were beloved family men who are sadly missed by their relatives, friends and colleagues.
She told MSPS: "On behalf of everyone in the Scottish Government and I am sure in this chamber, I want to share my profound condolences to these men’s families and friends.”