Stonehaven derailment might have been avoided with correctly built drain, sheriff finds

A sheriff has found that the 2020 Stonehaven train derailment, which killed three people, might realistically have been avoided if a drainage system had been built to its design and Network Rail had properly overseen and documented the work.

Sheriff Lesley Johnston’s fatal accident inquiry found that the drain failed to cope with intense rainfall on 12 August 2020. Water washed debris on to the track, where it was struck by the train near Carmont, in Aberdeenshire.

Driver Brett McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie and passenger Christopher Stuchbury died. Six other people on board were injured.

The inquiry found that contractor Carillion did not build the drain in accordance with its design and failed to provide “as built” drawings to Network Rail. The sheriff also identified Network Rail failings in overseeing the construction and complying with its own record-keeping standards.

The findings follow a 2023 criminal case in which Network Rail was fined £6.7 million after admitting health and safety failings connected with the crash.

Johnston made no new safety recommendations. She said earlier recommendations by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch had addressed the relevant safety issues; most had been implemented and the rest were being progressed. She concluded that no other reasonable measures had been identified that might realistically prevent deaths in similar circumstances.

The inquiry also identified shortcomings in extreme-weather preparations at the time, including staff training and the use of real-time weather information. Network Rail Scotland’s managing director, Liam Sumpter, said the company had made significant changes to how it managed severe-weather risks since the derailment.