Stonehaven train crash that killed three men could have been avoided if the drain had been built correctly, sheriff finds

Water had already eroded the drain's surface before construction was even complete, yet no action was taken, sheriff Lesley Johnston found.

Sheriff Lesley Johnston found that construction firm Carillion built the drain at Carmont in 2011-12 in a way that "deviated from its design in a number of respects", including faulty piping, wrong materials, and an added ridge that stopped it functioning. Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, all died from "unsurvivable" blunt force injuries when the 6:38am Aberdeen-to-Glasgow service struck debris washed onto the track and hit a bridge parapet at 73mph.

Network Rail was also criticised for failing to ensure Carillion handed over the required "as built" drawings of the finished drain.

A warning sign was missed during construction: water had already eroded the drain's surface before work was even complete, yet no action was taken.

Network Rail was fined a record £6.7m in 2023 after admitting it failed to warn driver McCullough the track was unsafe or to reduce his speed.

Evening StandardDerailment could have been avoided if drain built correctly, sheriff finds BBC News - ScotlandStonehaven train derailment could have been avoided if drain built correctly - sheriff Evening StandardFatal derailment ‘will feel like yesterday’ to those affected, says union boss The IndependentFatal train derailment could have been avoided, inquiry finds The Herald'Basic safety checks could have prevented Carmont rail disaster'The ScotsmanDeaths in Carmont train crash near Stonehaven 'might realistically' have been avoided if key mistake not made

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