Network Rail to face prosecution over deadly prepare derailment close to Stonehaven

Network Rail will face prosecution over an Aberdeenshire prepare crash that killed three individuals.

Train driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, died when the prepare derailed at Carmont, close to Stonehaven, on 12 August 2020.

The morning ScotRail service from Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street derailed after it hit a landslide following heavy rain.

The case will name on the High Court in Aberdeen on 7 September.

The prosecution comes after the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) thought-about stories from a joint investigation by Police Scotland, British Transport Police and the Office of Rail and Road – the impartial security and financial regulator for the nation’s railways.

The courtroom roll, revealed by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, states the prosecution can be underneath a Section 76 indictment. This process signifies a responsible plea could also be provided.

A Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) report revealed final March discovered that errors within the development of a drainage system put in by Carillion meant it was unable to deal with heavy rain which fell within the space on the morning of the crash.

Carillion went into obligatory liquidation in January 2018.

The RAIB report made 20 suggestions to enhance railway security, lots of which have been directed at Network Rail.

A Network Rail spokesperson mentioned: “The Carmont derailment and the tragic loss of Christopher Stuchbury, Donald Dinnie and Brett McCullough was a terrible day for our railway and our thoughts remain with their families and all those affected by the accident.

“While we can’t touch upon the continuing authorized course of, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch report into Carmont made clear that there have been elementary classes to be realized by Network Rail and we’ve supported the investigation course of.

“Since August 2020, we have been working hard to make our railway safer for our passengers and colleagues.”

Of the 9 individuals on board the 6.38am service, three have been killed and 6 have been injured after the prepare hit gravel and different particles that had washed onto the monitor.

The crash occurred shortly earlier than 9.40am when the prepare was on its manner again to Aberdeen because of the railway being blocked additional down the road.

Network Rail mentioned it was “committed to delivering on the recommendations made by RAIB”.

The spokesperson added: “Immediately after the accident, we inspected all similar locations across Britain and we also conducted a full survey of all types of trackside drainage on Scotland’s Railway.

“We have invested hundreds of thousands in the direction of bettering the resilience of our railway and are rolling out new know-how to assist us higher reply to excessive climate occasions.

“We have also changed how we manage the running of train services during periods when severe weather warnings are in place and have introduced a new team of weather experts to our control room to provide around-the-clock, real-time analysis on how the weather may affect Scotland’s Railway.

“From our day-to-day operations to our future planning, we’re working arduous to make our railway as protected and dependable as doable.”