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A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) is set to begin concerning a tragic train derailment in northeast Scotland that claimed the lives of three men. The incident occurred on 12 August 2020 when a train traveling from Aberdeen to Glasgow derailed near Carmont in Aberdeenshire. The derailment was caused by a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall. Tragically, the driver Brett McCullough, aged 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, all died as a result of the crash. Following an investigation, Network Rail was fined £6.7 million for multiple failures connected to the disaster.
The upcoming inquiry, which will take place in Aberdeen, is expected to last between three and four weeks starting at 11:00. During the 2023 court proceedings, Network Rail admitted that it had neglected essential maintenance and inspection duties prior to the accident. Additionally, the company conceded it failed to inform the train driver about unsafe track conditions or instruct him to reduce speed. At the High Court in Aberdeen, Lord Matthews remarked that no financial penalty could ever compensate for the immense loss suffered by the families of the victims, as well as those who were injured. Law firm Digby Brown has stated that nearly £1 million in civil claims against Network Rail have subsequently been settled.
The derailment happened in an area where a drainage system had been improperly installed, contributing to the landslide caused by heavy rain. The train, which was the 06:38 service to Glasgow, had been unable to complete its journey due to these adverse conditions and was returning to Aberdeen when the accident occurred. Records reveal that the driver had contacted a signaller to ask whether it was necessary to reduce speed during the train’s northbound return. The signaller was unaware of any obstructions and reassured the driver that normal speeds were safe.
As a result, the train accelerated to about 73mph, just under the maximum allowed speed of 75mph at the site of the accident. Unfortunately, the train then collided with debris from the landslide on the tracks, derailed, and hit a bridge parapet. The inquiry will take place in the civil annexe of Aberdeen Sheriff Court under Sheriff Lesley Johnston. The venue has been arranged to accommodate numerous legal teams, family members, press, and the public. Initial court sessions are allocated for three weeks, with subsequent closing statements to be submitted remotely. Kevin Lindsay, organiser for the train drivers union Aslef, expressed support for the examination, noting, “We hope and expect that this FAI establishes all the facts and helps ensure that no family goes through the pain endured by those closest to Christopher, Donald and Brett.
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