Investigation launched after trains sped through emergency speed reduction near Stonehaven crash site.
Two trains were clocked speeding through the area where an emergency restriction of 40mph is supposed to be in place, but drivers were found not to be aware of the temporary limit.
Last updated 8th Jan 2021
An investigation has been launched into trains speeding through the site of the Stonehaven rail crash despite emergency restrictions being in place over landslip fears.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said two passenger trains travelled at more than double the speed limit between Laurencekirk and Portlethen stations in Aberdeenshire on December 4 last year.
It said an emergency restriction of 40mph was imposed as a precaution with heavy rain forecast.
Both trains were going more than 100mph when they passed Carmont.
Three people died on August 12, 2020 when a ScotRail service hit a pile of washed-out rocks and gravel before derailing.
The RAIB said:
"After the second overspeed, the method of working was changed so trains were stopped shortly before reaching the restricted area while signallers reminded drivers about the reduced maximum permitted speed."
There were no injuries or damage as a result of the speeding trains.
The watchdog has now launched an investigation to determine what led to the speed breaches and will consider "any overlap with issues identified'' during its ongoing inquiry into the Stonehaven crash, but it pointed out there was no emergency speed restriction in place at the time of the tragedy.
It will also examine the process for advising train drivers of emergency speed restrictions and any relevant underlying factors.