Sheriff rules 2020 Stonehaven train crash was avoidable
- Sheriff Lesley Johnston ruled the 2020 Stonehaven derailment was preventable.
- The crash was caused by a drain not built to design specifications.
- Three men, including the driver and conductor, died in the incident.
- Network Rail and contractor Carillion were cited for governance failures.
- The inquiry determination was published more than six years after the crash.
Sheriff Lesley Johnston presided over the inquiry and determined that there were specific precautions which might realistically have avoided the accident.
Drainage construction and inspection failures
The incident occurred on 12 August 2020 when the 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow service struck debris that had been washed onto the track following heavy rainfall while travelling at 73mph. Sheriff Johnston concluded that Carillion Construction Limited, which entered compulsory liquidation in January 2018, failed to build the drain to its design. The contractor added an unauthorised bund that significantly contributed to the washout.
The inquiry found that the organisation failed to comply with its own 2012 standards, which required the collection of as-built drawings and a health and safety file from the contractor. Network Rail did not perform any routine inspections on the section of the drain located upslope of catchpit 18 between March 2013 and the date of the accident.
Governance and safety oversight issues
The fatal accident inquiry and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch report identified significant governance and corporate failures by Network Rail and their contractor Carillion.
Scotland's control room staff were not adequately trained on national standards for managing extreme weather at the time of the derailment. The National Rail Weather Service was not configured to provide real-time alerts to staff.
Victims and impact of the 2020 incident
The derailment resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to the other six passengers on board.
Brett McCullough was 45 years old and Donald Dinnie was 58 years old at the time of the incident.
Evidence heard by the inquiry suggested that Christopher Stuchbury was likely moving from coach B to coach D to speak with Donald Dinnie when the crash occurred.
Legal outcomes and industry response
Network Rail was fined £6.7m in 2023 after admitting to health and safety failings related to the crash.
Sheriff Johnston opted not to issue new recommendations, stating that the 20 recommendations previously made by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch have been or are currently being implemented by the rail industry.
Liam Sumpter, managing director of Network Rail Scotland, said the company has made significant changes to weather risk management and resilience since the accident.
ScotRail stated that it only operates trains meeting stringent safety requirements and has worked with Network Rail to implement recommendations made by the RAIB.
Union criticism and calls for legislative reform
The publication of the FAI determination more than six years after the accident was described as unacceptable for the families, the rail industry, and the public.
There are ongoing concerns regarding the crashworthiness of HST trains, leading to calls for their urgent removal from service. There is also a call for the Scottish government to strengthen corporate homicide laws to ensure individuals in senior management roles are held accountable for corporate failures.
Previous safety recommendations
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch issued 20 safety recommendations in 2022 regarding the incorrect installation of the drainage system.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Stonehaven train derailment could have been avoided if drain built correctly - sheriff (bbc.com)
- Derailment could have been avoided if drain built correctly, sheriff finds | Your Local Guardian (yourlocalguardian.co.uk)
- Fatal train derailment 'avoidable' if drain had been built correctly, sheriff finds (news.stv.tv)
- Faulty drain construction blamed for fatal Carmont train derailment (deadlinenews.co.uk)
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