Precautions could have prevented Stonehaven train derailment deaths, sheriff finds
Sheriff Lesley Johnston publishes determination following earlier FAI into Carmont crash
A sheriff has found there were precautions which could reasonably have been taken that might realistically have resulted in the deaths of three men in the Stonehaven train derailment being avoided.
Sheriff Lesley Johnston has issued her determination following a Fatal Accident Inquiry earlier this year.
Driver Brett McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie and passenger Christopher Stuchbury died on 12th August 2020.
The service came off the rails at Carmont on the Aberdeen to Dundee Main Line after it hit debris washed from a drain following very heavy rain.
What the sheriff found
Sheriff Lesley Johnston found there was a defect in a system of working which contributed to the accident, resulting in the deaths.
An incorrectly constructed drain was unable to accommodate the flow of surface water during the intense rainfall in the area.
Network Rail was unaware the drain had not been constructed as designed, and therefore did not take action to correct it.
In 2023, Network Rail was fined £6.7m in court for a series of failings.
Investigation and recommendations
Sheriff Johnston concluded the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) had carried out a detailed and thorough investigation.
It made 20 recommendations to the railway industry.
She was satisfied the issues identified in both the RAIB's report and in the Fatal Accident Inquiry either have been or are being addressed by the rail industry.
She did not consider there are any other reasonable precautions, improvements or other steps which could be taken that might realistically prevent other deaths in similar circumstances.
Network Rail response
Liam Sumpter, Network Rail Scotland managing director, said: "The tragedy at Carmont was a terrible day for our railway and our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of Brett McCullough, Donald Dinnie and Christopher Stuchbury, along with all those affected by the derailment.
"Since August 2020 we have been working hard to make our railway safer for our passengers and colleagues, to deliver on the RAIB recommendations and to fully support the FAI process to reach its conclusion. We have made significant changes to how we manage the risk of severe weather since the accident and to increase the resilience of Scotland's railway."