Eight safety recommendations still not actioned five years after fatal Stonehaven train derailment
The tragedy claimed three lives
Five years to the day since the Stonehaven rail disaster, it's emerged eight of 20 safety recommendations have still to be implemented.
Driver Brett McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie and passenger Christopher Stuchbury died when the Aberdeen to Glasgow train derailed after heavy rain caused a landslide.
RMT demand urgent action
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said “Our thoughts today are with the families of Donald, Brett and Chris, and with those injured and traumatised in the crash.
"But remembrance alone is not enough – there must be action, and it needs to be urgent.
“It is outrageous that five years after the accident took place, and three years since the RAIB set out what needed to change, that so many safety recommendations are still outstanding.
"We demand better – for those we lost, for those who survived and for the safety of every worker and passenger going forward."
Network Rail : progress has been made
A Network Rail spokesperson said : "Today, on the fifth anniversary of the Carmont tragedy, we remember Brett McCullough, Donald Dinnie, and Christopher Stuchbury, and all those who were injured. Our thoughts remain with their families, friends, and everyone affected by the accident.
“Since August 2020, we’ve been working hard to make our railway safer for passengers and colleagues. In the immediate aftermath of the accident, we changed how train services are managed during severe weather warnings.
"We’re investing more than £400m in projects to strengthen the railway’s resilience to increasingly unpredictable weather. This includes enhanced weather forecasting with dedicated meteorologists, which allows us to introduce targeted speed restrictions or close lines when extreme conditions are expected, helping to keep Scotland’s Railway safe.
“Meaningful progress has been made on the recommendations from the Carmont investigation, which includes coordinated action across all Network Rail routes, and we continue to work closely with the ORR, train operators, and other key stakeholders.”