Network Rail to inspect 'high risk' trackside slopes after Stonehaven train crash

Network Rail has announced it will carry out “supplementary specialist inspections” of “higher risk” trackside slopes with similar characteristics to the site of the Aberdeenshire train crash.

The organisation said there would be a “few dozen” sites where inspections would be needed. They will be carried out by its own engineers, specialist contractors and a helicopter survey will also be used.

It is also talking to weather forecasters to try to get quicker information on flash flooding caused by “unpredictable extreme weather”.

Officials have pledged to find out what caused the train to derail near Stonehaven, killing three people and injuring six others.

Train derails near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire

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The 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street service came off the tracks on Wednesday morning amid heavy rain and flooding.

Driver Brett McCullough, 45, died in the rail derailment. The train’s conductor, Donald Dinnie, and a passenger, were also killed.

Four firefighters were injured while dealing with the derailment, according to Scotland's fire and rescue service.

Assistant chief officer Paul Stewart told BBC Scotland: “It was clearly a very difficult and hazardous scene yesterday and it remains so and we take the safety of our crews very seriously indeed.

Emergency vehicles near the crash 
REUTERS

“We did have the unfortunate event of four firefighters receiving minor injuries at the scene yesterday, two of which attended hospital for a precautionary check up and two of which remained at the scene, so a very hazardous and difficult scene but something that the fire and rescue service is well able to manage and deal with.”

British Transport Police chief inspector Brian McAleese said an investigation would be directed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and the Scottish Government’s Michael Matheson are both set to visit the area on Thursday and meet members of the emergency services.

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotrail, called the incident "devastating... for everybody who works in the rail industry in Scotland."

He told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland radio programme:“Our love and support is sent to the victims of this accident and their families, those that were injured in the accident and anybody who was touched by yesterday’s terrible tragedy.”

Climate change is making maintaining the rail network increasingly challenging, according to Scotland’s Transport Secretary.

Michael Matheson told BBC Radio Scotland: The rail network are experiencing increasing challenges across different parts of the routes, not just here in Scotland but across the UK, due to what is an increasing number of very intense localised weather events that have a significant impact on the infrastructure that they have within the rail network.”

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