'Serious injuries' after passenger train derails near Stonehaven during storms

A major incident has been declared and about 30 emergency service vehicles - including air ambulance support - have been called to the scene.


Smoke can be seen coming from the area.


First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described it as an "extremely serious incident" and said there were early reports of "serious injuries".


Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, she said: "My immediate thoughts, and the thoughts of those across the chamber, are with all those involved."

The incident took place west of Stonehaven as torrential rain and thunderstorms caused flooding and travel disruption across many parts of central and eastern Scotland.

British Transport Police said its officers had been called to the scene of the derailment at about 09:43.


NHS Grampian confirmed it was on a "major incident footing", and ScotRail said it was assisting the emergency services.


Kevin Lindsay, the Scottish organiser for train drivers' union Aslef, said: "We are aware that this is an extremely serious incident and our thoughts are with everyone involved."


The RMT union's Mick Lynch said: "The facts behind this ‎incident will need to be established in due course, but at this stage we are focussed on support and assistance and our thoughts are with all those impacted by this tragedy."

'Serious injuries' after passenger train derails near Stonehaven during storms - BBC News

This just popped up on local news here. Must be very bad.

Three people have died and six people have been taken to hospital after a train derailed in Aberdeenshire.

British Transport Police said formal identifications are yet to take place but the driver is believed to have been killed.

They added that his family have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained family liaison officers.

Officers are working to inform the families of the other two people who died.

Six people have been taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be serious.

Emergency services are responding to the "extremely serious" incident near Stonehaven after being called to the scene at around 9.40am on Wednesday.

Footage posted on social media showed smoke billowing above trees surrounding the railway line.

Stonehaven crash: Three people dead after train derails in Aberdeenshire | UK News | Sky News

Close to home this one, although my workmate was first to tell me about it when he saw it on an Argentinian news website.

Talk on fb from back home is that a bridge collapsed and 2 trains had already passed prior to that one.

https://twitter.com/STVNews/status/1...515253248?s=08

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dirk diggler

Close to home this one, although my workmate was first to tell me about it when he saw it on an Argentinian news website.

Talk on fb from back home is that a bridge collapsed and 2 trains had already passed prior to that one.

https://twitter.com/STVNews/status/1...515253248?s=08

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Quote:

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One rail industry source says the 06:38 service from Aberdeen to Glasgow was initially halted because of flooding on the line.
The driver apparently contacted control to ask permission to switch tracks.
It's believed the train reversed and switched to clearer tracks and then continued on its route to Glasgow.
Then it is thought the train hit a landslide and derailed.

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Three dead after passenger train derails near Stonehaven - BBC News

Yeah it's all floods in the media too. Shit time to be in Aberdeen, which is currently back in lockdown for Covid too.

Attachment 55969

The train that derailed near Stonehaven struck a landslip before coming off the track and sliding along the ground for 90 metres, an investigation has found.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said Wednesday's 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street service subsequently destroyed a barrier on the edge of a bridge, leading the front power car and a carriage to fall down an embankment between Carmont and Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire.

Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, were killed, while the other six people on board were taken to hospital.

A statement from the RAIB said the ScotRail train had not been able not continue its journey south due to bad weather and so it was rerouted back to Aberdeen over a crossover at Carmont on to another line.

"After travelling for approximately 1.4 miles (2.25km), the train struck a landslip covering the down line and derailed," the statement said.

"As the track curved to the right, the train continued in a roughly straight line for around 100 yards (90 metres) until it struck a section of bridge parapet, which was destroyed."

It said the front power car and the third passenger carriage continued over the bridge, then fell down a wooded embankment in the heavy rain.

The first passenger carriage landed on its roof and at right angles to the track, while the second passenger carriage overturned on to its roof and came to rest on the first carriage.

RAIB said the fourth passenger carriage remained upright and attached to the rear power car, but landed on the first carriage.

The investigation is still ongoing, and the RAIB said it is collecting evidence to help it identify "factors relevant to the cause of the accident and its consequences".

It said factors likely to be taken into account include the actions of the people involved, recent inspections of drainage and earthworks in the area, management of the risks of extreme weather, and actions taken in response to previous safety recommendations.

The RAIB did not give a timeframe for when it will publish its final report.

Stonehaven crash: Train hit landslip and slid off track for 90 metres before crashing into bridge, investigation finds - Original 106 Aberdeen