Stonehaven train derailment crash victims remembered on fourth anniversary of incident

Tributes have been paid to three men who died in the Stonehaven train derailment in Aberdeenshire four years ago.

Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, lost their lives in the crash at Carmont on August 12, 2020.

Six others were left injured after the train hit washed-out debris while returning to Aberdeen due to the line being blocked.

The train came off the tracks after it struck a landslide, hitting gravel and other stony material washed out from a drain.

On the fourth anniversary of the incident, ScotRail and Network Rail paid tribute to those killed, and said their “thoughts remain” with all affected by the incident.

The train came off the tracks after hitting washed-out debris. STV News

A ScotRail spokesperson said: “Today is the fourth anniversary of the tragic accident at Carmont, when we lost our colleagues Brett McCullough, Donald Dinnie and passenger Christopher Stuchbury.

“Our thoughts are with their families, and everyone across the railway affected by the tragedy.”

On the fourth anniversary of the tragedy at Carmont, we remember Brett McCullough, Donald Dinnie and Christopher Stuchbury, three lives devastatingly lost, and all those who were injured.

Our thoughts remain with their families, friends, and everyone affected by the accident.
— Network Rail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) August 12, 2024

Solicitors Digby Brown secured £1m in compensation for seven people affected by the derailment – two people who lost loved ones and five passengers.

Network Rail pleaded guilty over its involvement in the crash in September 2023.

The charge stated that Network Rail failed to impose an emergency speed restriction “in absence of current information about the integrity of the railway line and drainage assets between Montrose and Stonehaven”, and failed to inform the driver that it was unsafe to drive the train at a speed of 75mph or caution him to reduce his speed.

A report into the fatal derailment by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) made 20 recommendations in March 2022 for the improvement of railway safety – including the better management of construction activities by Network Rail and its contractors.

The rail operator said it had taken “immediate steps” after the derailment to review how extreme rainfall in managed and that new measures to slow down trains or close line during bad weather had been put in place.

An RMT statement read: “On the fourth anniversary of the Carmont tragedy RMT paid tribute to those who died n the tragic derailment in Aberdeenshire.

“The union also has deep concerns following the Rail Accident Investigation branch’s (RAIB) annual report which questioned whether the rail industry has learnt lessons from deadly derailment in 2020.

“The previous RAIB report on the crash, which saw three people fatally killed, was published in March 2022 with 20 recommendations. Yet two years on the independent safety body noted that although a lot of work had been undertaken, “the majority remain open and there is a considerable way to go”.

“RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that if the government and the rail industry does not act on the safety concerns raised by RAIB there was an increased risk of more accidents like Carmont putting rail workers and rail passengers at risk of harm.”