‘Serious injuries’ as ScotRail passenger train derails in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland #Train #Derailment #Emergency #Stonehaven #Aberdeenshire #Scotland #UK
The derailment of a passenger train in Aberdeenshire has seen a major incident declared following reports of serious injuries.
Emergency services are responding to the “extremely serious” incident in Stonehaven after being called to the scene around 9.40am on Wednesday.
Footage posted on social media showed smoke billowing above trees surrounding the railway line.
A number of ambulances and a medical helicopter were pictured parked in a nearby field.
Rail industry sources told the PA news agency that the suspected cause of the incident was a landslip.
The train involved was said to be the 6.38am Aberdeen to Stonehaven service, made up of a locomotive and four carriages.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said they had deployed six ambulances, special operations response teams, an air ambulance, and patient transport vehicles.
Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the derailment of the ScotRail train as an “extremely serious incident”.
“I’ve had an initial report from Network Rail and the emergency services and am being kept updated,” she posted on Twitter.
“All my thoughts are with those involved.”
Speaking later during First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Sturgeon said there had been “early reports of serious injuries” as she revealed a “major incident” had been declared.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “saddened to learn of the very serious incident in Aberdeenshire and my thoughts are with all of those affected”.
Thunderstorms had caused flooding across Aberdeenshire on Wednesday, prompting the cancellation of some rail services and the shutting of a number of schools.
At 9.49am on Wednesday, Network Rail Scotland posted a video of a landslip and flooding on rail tracks at Carmont, believed to be close to the scene of the derailment.
It is unclear whether the landslip was directly related to the incident.
“At Carmont, we’ve had reports of a landslip, which means services can’t operate between Dundee & Aberdeen,” Network Rail Scotland had posted.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he had held an urgent meeting with rail operators about the Stonehaven derailment.
“British Transport Police & Network Rail are on location, along with rail workers who were nearby,” the UK cabinet minister posted on Twitter.
“The UK Government will provide every support. My thoughts are with those involved and their families.
Network Rail Scotland said they were “working alongside the emergency services to respond to an incident involving a train near Stonehaven”.
A spokesperson added: “It is too early to confirm the exact nature and severity of the incident and more details will be made available once known.”
Andrew Bowie, the Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, said he had spoken by telephone to Mr Shapps.
The local MP, who said a major incident had been declared at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, had been in Stonehaven surveying flood damage earlier on Wednesday.
Mr Bowie said: “The situation was really bad this morning, the River Carron, the main river which flows through it, had burst its banks and the heavy rain had caused flooding in the centre of Stonehaven and lots of the side streets leading off it.
“Luckily, the water receded incredibly quickly and the river has peaked and is going down.”
“Obviously none of us expected there to be such a serious incident as a rail derailment at the same time, but it just goes to show how damaging the bad weather can be.”
He added: “I don’t think speculation is helpful at this stage. We obviously don’t know why the derailment took place, but obviously we have suffered terrible weather here.”
Rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road said it was sending an inspector to the Stonehaven site.
Mick Lynch, the assistant general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said: “RMT is aware of the major incident at Stonehaven and our reps are liaising directly at senior level with both Scotrail and Network Rail.
“Our priority at this time is to support our members, their colleagues and their families and to do all that we can to assist the rescue operation which RMT members are currently involved in.
“The facts behind this incident will need to be established in due course but at this stage we are focused on support and assistance and our thoughts are with all those impacted by this tragedy.”
Courtesy of Sky News
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