HST derailment, near Stonehaven, 12th August 2020

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

There’s no question that the chances of surviving a crash in a Mk III is less so than in something more modern, but of course the risk of being involved in a crash in the first place is incredibly small.  On balance I think allowing them to carry on in service is an acceptable risk.

[broadgage]

I for one would much prefer a "proper HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))" to the modern alternative. The risk of a serious accident is so minute that from my point of view it is far below passenger comfort and facilities.

Perhaps Scotland would some nice new IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) ?  in return for some HSTs ?

[TonyK]

I for one would much prefer a "proper HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))" to the modern alternative. The risk of a serious accident is so minute that from my point of view it is far below passenger comfort and facilities.

Perhaps Scotland would some nice new IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) ?  in return for some HSTs ?

I dare say they would, but they ain't having them.

[ellendune]

I for one would much prefer a "proper HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))" to the modern alternative. The risk of a serious accident is so minute that from my point of view it is far below passenger comfort and facilities.

Perhaps Scotland would some nice new IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) ?  in return for some HSTs ?

I know someone who was in the HST at Ladbrook Grove I don't think I will ask her opinion. 

[bradshaw]

Here is the link to Gareth Dennis's Twitter feed on the subject

https://twitter.com/garethdennis/status/1389853928104284166?s=21

[TonyK]

Punches are not pulled in the accompanying article:

"The HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) cab is essentially an upturned bath tub mounted facing outwards with a driver inside it.

"There is zero crash structure for the cab – absolutely zero crashworthiness whatsoever.

"Zero protection for the driver.

"All there is the base of the front of the HST with a fibreglass shell over the front.


"There is no crash structure at all."

[didcotdean]

I for one would much prefer a "proper HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))" to the modern alternative. The risk of a serious accident is so minute that from my point of view it is far below passenger comfort and facilities.

Perhaps Scotland would some nice new IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) ?  in return for some HSTs ?

I know someone who was in the HST at Ladbrook Grove I don't think I will ask her opinion. 

As someone who was in the HST at Ladbroke Grove I think there is a need to develop a retirement schedule for them by the rail companies and/or the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).

[IndustryInsider]

I can certainly see how anyone directly involved in Ladbroke Grove, or one of the other crashes involving HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)), would have that opinion.  But presumably you would then have to have the same opinion about the Turbo that was a write off in that same crash, and anything else constructed during the last century.

[Oxonhutch]

As someone who was in the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) at Ladbroke Grove I think there is a need to develop a retirement schedule for them by the rail companies and/or the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).

I raise my cap sir. I believe I was in the last down HEX that passed you in close proximity before your collision. I wish you well.

[didcotdean]

You can never have everything up to the current new build standards. I don't really want to make too strong a point over this but I was somewhat surprised particularly of the choice to introduce the short HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) in Scotrail. Less so by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) as this was more of a direct repurposing within a organisation familiar with them over decades.

[stuving]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Stonehaven derailment: Crash report delayed until 2022

A final report into the fatal train derailment near Stonehaven will not be ready this year, BBC Scotland understands.

Three people died when a train left the tracks after hitting a landslip in August 2020.

An interim Rail Accident Investigation Branch report said a signaller was not aware of any obstruction on the line.

But the final report, which had been expected this autumn, will not be published until January...

[MVR S&T]

Now published.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-60654251

[JayMac]

The full report can be read here:

https://www.gov.uk/raib-reports/report-02-slash-2022-derailment-of-a-passenger-train-at-carmont

At 298 pages it would appear to be one of the most comprehensive investigations ever conducted by the RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch).

A video summary, including animation of the derailment, has also been uploaded to YouTube:


Also on YouTube is a visualisation of the drainage in place at the time of the incident, with animation showing how the washout occurred and how the topography contributed to washout debris making its way onto the railway:

[grahame]

Summary ...

Now published.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-60654251

Headlines:

A series of failures contributed to a rail crash in Aberdeenshire which claimed three lives, an investigation has found.

A report said the train hit a landslide near Stonehaven in August 2020 after heavy rain in an area where a drainage system had been incorrectly installed.

Investigators also highlighted problems with operational procedures in dealing with the effects of severe weather.

The full report can be read here:

https://www.gov.uk/raib-reports/report-02-slash-2022-derailment-of-a-passenger-train-at-carmont

At 298 pages it would appear to be one of the most comprehensive investigations ever conducted by the RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch).

[ellendune]

This report does not offer much comfort for those who would like to see HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) continue in service. 

Among other things it recommends:

1)

Establish criteria for the allowable extent of corrosion in safety critical areas of rolling stock

 
2)

Assessment of the additional risk to vehicle occupants associated with the lack of certain modern crashworthiness features on HSTs, and the development of industry guidance for assessing and mitigating the risk associated with the continued operation of HSTs and other types of main line passenger rolling stock designed before the introduction of modern crashworthiness standards in 1994

I wonder if when these are done for HSTs we might find a few more of them going for scrap.