Stonehaven derailment: Almost £1m paid in damages

Almost £1m in damages has been awarded to some of those affected by the Stonehaven train derailment in which three men died in 2020.

The Aberdeen to Glasgow service derailed at Carmont after hitting a landslide following heavy rain.

Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, died.

Law firm Digby Brown said a total of nearly £1m in civil actions against Network Rail had been settled.

Network Rail was fined £6.7m last month after admitting a series of failings which led to the deaths. Six others were injured.

It is understood Digby Brown was acting for seven people affected by the derailment - two who lost loved ones and five passengers - and that the cases were settled out of court.

"I can confirm our civil actions against Network Rail have all successfully settled," a Digby Brown spokesman said

"Specifics cannot be discussed however the total sum recovered was nearly £1m with all damages rightly reflecting the injuries, trauma and losses each person suffered, and will continue to suffer for the rest of their lives.

"No amount of compensation will ever heal the wounds of the horrendous and avoidable tragedy at Carmont but it can at least provide recognition to those affected and the means to look to the future in the most life-affirming way possible."

Network Rail said: "To the families of those who lost their lives we would say again how deeply sorry we are that this tragedy was able to happen.

"And to those survivors who were injured, we are very sorry for the pain and distress caused.

"We've been working closely with victims and relatives since the tragic derailment at Carmont, which has included efforts to address compensation claims."

Network Rail had pleaded guilty to a number of maintenance and inspection failures before the crash in August 2020.

It also admitted failing to warn the driver that part of the track was unsafe or tell him to reduce his speed.

The judge, Lord Matthews, said no penalty could compensate for the loss suffered by the families of those who died and the people injured.

It was also announced that a fatal accident inquiry would be held into the crash.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said the aim was to help avoid a similar incident happening again.

The train hit a landslide near Stonehaven after heavy rain in an area where a drainage system had been incorrectly installed.

The 06:38 service to Glasgow had been unable to complete its journey due to the conditions and was returning to Aberdeen when the accident happened.

A recording of the driver showed he queried with a signaller if any reduced speed was needed to return north. He was told everything was fine for normal speed.

The train struck debris from a landslide on the track, derailed and collided with a bridge parapet.