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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2021 :: RMTnews
11
Following the Rail Accident
Investigation Branch’s interim
report on the tragedy at
Carmont on August 12 2020,
where six vehicles of a
passenger train derailed after
striking a landslip, killing three
and injuring six, RMT believes
that the RAIB seemed to be
taking Network Rail’s
commitments on expertise at
face value.
It has been eight months
since train driver Brett
McCullough, conductor
Donald Dinnie and passenger
Christopher Stuchbury were
killed after the Aberdeen to
Glasgow Queen Street service
crashed at Carmont, south of
Stonehaven.
RMT general secretary Mick
Lynch stated that the tragic
loss of life and damage at
Carmont sets out that there
are clear deficiencies in
Network Rail’s approach to the
effects of severe weather and
its effects on the ageing rail
infrastructure.
“Network Rail must learn
from this incident and take the
necessary steps to ensure that
they are preventing incidents
from happening.
“That means a robust and
regular inspection,
maintenance and
improvement programme that
means our railway
infrastructure is fit for a future
where extreme weather may
become more regular and
more challenging.
“We need a well-
maintained railway that will
need a hands-on approach to
maintenance and
improvements and not just
leaving matters to predictions
and forecasts.
“Rail resilience issues are a
serious concern to RMT and
we have tried to engage with
Network Rail in Scotland in a
proactive manner to ensure
the safety of the travelling
public and railway staff,” he
said.
As part of the
investigations, two
independent expert taskforces
– one on earthworks and one
on weather – has set out more
than 50 recommendations,
including greater focus on
drainage initiatives, upskilling
workers, looking at
organisational design and
culture, and reviewing
commercial contracts and
services.
The RAIB is due to publish
the findings of its own
independent investigation
later this year.
TRAGEDY: A crane is brought in to the site, following the derailment of the
ScotRail train which cost the lives of three people, near Stonehaven,
Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
CARMONT TRAGEDY
INTERIM REPORT
Union calls for a well-maintained railway which require a
hands-on approach to maintenance and improvements