RMT warns 'lessons must be learned' five years on from Stonehaven trail derailment that killed three

A union has warned “lessons must be learned” five years on from a deadly train crash which killed three people in Aberdeenshire.

Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62 lost their lives when a ScotRail train struck a landslip and came off the tracks at a bridge in Carmont, near Stonehaven, on August 12, 2020.

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

Network Rail pled guilty over its involvement in the fatal crash, admitting it did not warn the train’s driver it was unsafe to drive on that section of track, and failing to tell him to reduce his speed.

Almost £1m in compensation was awarded to five passengers and two people who lost loved ones.

Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger, Christopher Stuchbury, 62 all died in the crash. STV News

On the fifth anniversary of the incident, rail union RMT warned that the government and Network Rail’s failure to fully act on safety recommendations made following the fatal crash has left rail workers and passengers at continued risk.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) concluded in 2022 that errors made during the system’s construction by failed firm Carillion led to the incident.

In its report, RAIB issued 20 safety recommendations, including action on drainage design, control room functions, risk management processes, and train crashworthiness.

A report published in 2024 confirmed that eight recommendations remain open.

The RAIB stated: “A lot of work has been undertaken and progress made in closing the recommendations in the intervening years. However, eight remain open, indicating that there is still work to do.”

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has also warned that continuing with the current approach “may lead to a failure to learn the lessons of Carmont”.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said “Our thoughts today are with the families of Donald, Brett and Chris, and with those injured and traumatised in the crash.

“But remembrance alone is not enough – there must be action, and it needs to be urgent.

“It is outrageous that five years after the accident took place, and three years since the RAIB set out what needed to change, that so many safety recommendations are still outstanding.

“We demand better – for those we lost, for those who survived and for the safety of every worker and passenger going forward.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are first and foremost with all those affected by this tragic accident. While rail safety is reserved to the UK Government, it is a key priority, and we fully expect any required improvements and measures to be implemented.

“The Scottish Government takes the matter of safety on Scotland’s Railway very seriously. In doing so, we also fully understand the duty of care that all parties involved in designing, constructing and operating the railway have to each other and to the travelling public, and the duty of co-operation those parties have to facilitate safe operation.

“We firmly believe that the prevention of accidents is the most effective mitigation.”

Network Rail has been contacted for comment.