The 2020 Stonehaven rail crash “will feel like yesterday” to the families of those affected, a union boss has said, as he called for the industry to “go further” to precent anything like it happening again.
asserted
anything → feel → it
RMT Scotland organiser Gordon Martin said he welcomed the findings of a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the derailment, which identified an incorrectly-built drain as the cause.
asserted
which → say → cause
Three people were killed and six injured when train 1T08 derailed at Carmont near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, on August 12, 2020 after hitting debris that was washed from the drain on to the track by heavy rain.
asserted
that → kill → rain
Read More
Speaking to the Press Association, Mr Martin said: “I’d just like to reiterate our deepest condolences to the families of the three people that unfortunately lost their lives, and best wishes to the people injured and their families.
asserted
that → read → people
“Although it was over six years ago now, it will feel like yesterday to those families, and it’s a traumatic event.”
asserted
it → feel → families
He added: “For the wider railway family, it’s also been traumatic.
asserted
it → add → family
“The railway family lost two members that day through an accident that could have been avoided, and that’s why the lessons must be learned to ensure these kind of matters cannot arise again.”
uncertain
kind → lose → matters
He welcomed the 20 recommendations set out in an earlier Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) report into the incident, which Sheriff Johnson described in her determination as “comprehensive and wide-ranging”.
asserted
Johnson → welcome → determination
However Mr Martin said the “only way we can ensure this doesn’t happen again” is by ending the outsourcing of infrastructure works by Network Rail.
asserted
this → say → Rail
This is not one of the 20 recommendations, but Mr Martin said it “doesn’t take a recommendation from anyone to do this”.
asserted
it → say → this
He said: “Until and unless Network Rail stop outsourcing infrastructure work, in other words, to insource it and do the work to Network Rail standards with Network Rail trained, competent, and certified staff, there is always a risk of an infrastructure failure leading to the deaths of other people.
asserted
Rail → say → people
“I hope that never happens, but there is that risk inherent in using staff (where) you don’t know what the fatigue levels are, and you don’t really know what their competence levels are.
asserted
levels → hope → staff
But will Network Rail and the UK and Scottish governments demand it?
asserted
Rail → demand → it
Time will tell.”
asserted
Time → tell → ?
He also questioned the crash-worthiness of Scotland’s ageing high-speed train rolling stock, saying the sooner this is taken off the network the better.
asserted
this → question → network
He said the InterCity 125 train involved in the crash was first introduced to the network 50 years ago, and that it had “crumbled” in the crash rather than “standing up to it the way modern trains should”.
asserted
trains → say → it
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “Our immediate thoughts remain with all those affected by this tragic accident.
“
asserted
thoughts → say → accident
Whilst rail safety is reserved to the UK Government, it is a key priority.
asserted
it → reserve → Government
“The Scottish Government takes the matter of safety on Scotland’s Railway very seriously.
asserted
Government → take → Railway
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.”
asserted
parties → do → operation
A Network Rail Scotland spokesperson said: “The tragedy at Carmont was a terrible day for our railway and our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of Brett McCullough, Donald Dinnie and Christopher Stuchbury, along with all those affected by the derailment.
asserted
thoughts → say → derailment
“Since August 2020 we have been working hard to make our railway safer for our passengers and colleagues, to deliver on the RAIB recommendations and to fully support the FAI process.
asserted
railway → work → process
“We have made significant changes to how we manage the risk of severe weather since the accident and are working to increase the resilience of Scotland’s railway.
asserted
we → make → railway
“We have also put in place extensive assurance measures to improve how we deliver engineering projects like the one at Carmont and have reviewed our maintenance procedures.”
asserted
we → put → procedures
The UK Government declined to comment.
asserted
Government → decline → ?
The Aporia
