Derailment near Oban - Sun 06 Jun 2010

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Congratulations to the staff on the train, for their very professional conduct, though.

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

Driver of derailed train saw 'huge rocks on track'

The driver of a train that derailed and burst briefly into flames in Argyll has told how he held passengers' hands and helped lead them to safety.

The Glasgow to Oban service left the tracks near the Falls of Cruachan power station by Loch Awe shortly before 2100 BST on Sunday.

All 60 passengers were rescued, with eight people suffering minor injuries.

Driver Willie Dickson said he hit the emergency brakes on seeing "two huge rocks on the track".

The 60-year-old from Grangemouth, who has been a train driver since 1992 and has worked on the railways for 30 years, also told how it "was a real team effort" to free passengers from the overturned train.

Both carriages caught fire and came to rest over a 15-metre embankment.

Passengers spoke of seeing "balls of flames".

Mr Dickson, who suffered bruising when the train derailed, said: "I stayed at the controls until the train came to rest. I then entered the front carriage and tried to calm passengers down before taking people by the hand and leading them off the train."

He added: "My colleagues were brilliant - as were some passengers who helped others on board. It was a real team effort."

Hospitality host, Drew Hinde, 38, from Glasgow, said he had used his catering trolley to steady himself following the impact.

Mr Hinde, who has worked for ScotRail for almost three years, said: "My initial thought was that it was surreal but we immediately helped all passengers leave the train."

Conductor Angus MacColl, 54, of Oban, said he was in the rear coach when the train came to a halt.

He explained: "I shouted 'calm down, calm down' and it worked. I got people out the back before going into the front carriage where passengers were also being taken off the train. Willie and Drew were brilliant - as were passengers who helped out."

Steve Montgomery, ScotRail's managing director, paid tribute to the train crew saying: "This incident could have been more serious but for their actions. They did a tremendous job in difficult circumstances are a credit to the company."

An investigation into the cause of the derailment is under way.

It is thought the boulders on the track may have been the result of a landslide in the area.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Morning Star:

Union praises 'true heroes' of accident

The driver and guard of a train which derailed and caught fire in Scotland are "true heroes" for preventing a major disaster, transport union RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) has said.

Leader Bob Crow praised the ScotRail employees' "quick thinking" in securing the safety of all 60 passengers on Sunday.

Passengers said "balls of flame" engulfed the carriage and the first car was left suspended over the hillside. Only the mechanism that connected it with the second car prevented it from falling.

Passenger Paul Gibson said: "Bags and shelves seemed to sort of start flying across the carriage. And then all of a sudden, on either side of us, on the outside, big balls of flame managed to come across us."

The guard activated emergency procedures and evacuated passengers while the driver put out the fire in the carriage. Eight people sustained minor injuries.

RMT general secretary Mr Crow stressed that, had the service been a driver-only operation like those being rolled out on other ScotRail services, the driver would have been "in an impossible and potentially lethal situation.

"Attempting to extinguish a fire while safely evacuating a train just cannot be done and ScotRail and the Scottish government now need to recognise that and call a halt to their plans to roll out driver-only operation."

Mr Crow said the accident on the 6.20pm service from Glasgow to Oban confirmed the need to put an "immediate halt" to the introduction of driver-only operation on ScotRail's Airdrie-Bathgate route.

"The incident has once again confirmed the safety-critical role that the guard plays in an emergency situation and that it was only the experience and training of the guard, working with the driver, that avoided a major disaster," he said.

Mr Crow added: "It is a miracle that a major disaster was avoided and the incident shows once again that corners cannot be cut when it comes to rail safety."

Train driver Willie Dickson described seeing "two huge rocks" on the track before the accident.

It is likely that a landslide had thrown several boulders on to the train track, police said.

[IndustryInsider]

Mr. Crow's very quick off the mark to add some weight to his argument about the extension of DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) services!

[Tim]

Of course any bus service relies on the road below the railway (A55) being open which I fear might not be for some time.

These buses go the long way round, do they? Or did you mean the A85?

I meant the A85.  It has been a few years since I was up there.  If the road and railway is still closed next week, I think you could get the rail replacement bus to Oban and then catch the 403 local bus back to Taynuilt.  http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/pdffilesstore/btt403a assuming the timing works. 

[grahame]

From National Rail:

Passengers wishing to travel to stations between Crianlarich and Oban should make alternative travel arrangements.

Isn't that a bit cheeky - isn't there a requirement for the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) (which company runs the trains in Scotland) to provide an alternative if they can't get you there on the scheduled train / within the hour?   If the road past Loch Awe is shut, I appreciate the problem, but it does seem a bit naughty to try not to provide for your customers to Lower Tyndrum, Dalmally, Taynuilt, Falls of Cruachan and Connell Ferry. 

I'll be charitable and forgive Lower Tyndrum.  Use Upper Tyndrum ...

[Tim]

maybe they will lay on taxis if you actually turn up with a pre-bought ticket, but are in affect not offering to make any new contracts for travel to intermediate stations?

[Brucey]

From National Rail:

Passengers wishing to travel to stations between Crianlarich and Oban should make alternative travel arrangements.

Isn't that a bit cheeky - isn't there a requirement for the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) (which company runs the trains in Scotland) to provide an alternative if they can't get you there on the scheduled train / within the hour?   If the road past Loch Awe is shut, I appreciate the problem, but it does seem a bit naughty to try not to provide for your customers to Lower Tyndrum, Dalmally, Taynuilt, Falls of Cruachan and Connell Ferry. 

I'll be charitable and forgive Lower Tyndrum.  Use Upper Tyndrum ...

The First ScotRail website gives a few more details about what services are available (and why there is no bustitution, my bold):

Train services between Oban and Crianlarich are being disrupted due to a derailed train.
Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected.
Please note that no train services will operate between Oban and Crianlarich, a replacement bus service will operate from Oban to Glasgow Queen Street, from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and also from Crianlarich to Oban all via Ballachullish. We are unable to operate alternative transport for stations between Oban and Crianlarich due to the road being closed. Passengers should be aware that journey times will be extended and to allow extra time for any onward connections. Passengers with boat connection at Oban, please note that connections are not guaranteed due to the extended journey times. For any customer enquiries contact ScotRail Customer Relations on 0845 601 5929

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/

[JayMac]

Mr. Crow's very quick off the mark to add some weight to his argument....

Got enough weight to spare methinks. He doesn't appear to be on a proleteriat diet!

[Tim]

But the road is not closed along its whole length.  With the possible exception of Falls of Cruachan, all other stations could be served from one end or the other. 

[Timmer]

But the road is not closed along its whole length.  With the possible exception of Falls of Cruachan, all other stations could be served from one end or the other. 

Their reasoning could be not enough passengers from these stations to justify running a replacement service?

[brompton rail]

The following is from Scottish City Link's website:

Derailment at Cruachan

Due to a train derailement at Cruachan, Argyll, a number of our services are being diverted.

Service 973 Dundee- Oban and Service 978 Edinburgh-Oban

These services will operate their normal route between Dundee/Edinburgh and Tyndrum. Thereafter they will continue via the A82 Glencoe, Ballachulish, A828 Duror and Barcaldine to Connel then normal route via the A85 to Oban. This is expected to add approximately 45 minutes to the journey time between Tyndrum and Oban. Whilst advertised connections at Tyndrum for Fort William will be maintained westbound, eastbound connections will be subject to delays at Tyndrum. We will be unable to serve Dalmally, Loch Awe, Cruachan, Crunachy, Taynuilt and Fearnoch.

Service 975 Oban-Tyndrum

This service will operate between Oban and Glencoe crossroads where connections will be maintained with the Glasgow-Fort William service at that point. The service will operate as above between Oban and Glencoe and we will be unable to serve Dalmally, Loch Awe, Cruachan, Crunachy, Taynuilt and Fearnoch. Ferry connections at Oban cannot be guaranteed.

Services 976 and 977 Glasgow-Oban

These service will operate their normal route to Inveraray and thereafter continue via the A83 to Lochgilphead, A816 Kilmartin and Kilmore to Oban. This is expected to add approximately an hour to the journey time between Inveraray and Oban. We will be unable to serve Cladich, Dalmally, Loch Awe, Cruachan, Crunachy, Taynuilt, Fearnoch, Connel and Dunbeg. Ferry connections at Oban cannot be guaranteed.

The disruption to the above services is expected to last 2-3 days until such time as the A85 is fully reopened between Tyndrum and Connel following the removal of the derailed train.

Therefore ScotRail's replacement coaches seem reasonable and this leaves really only a very few stations uncovered.

[grahame]

Therefore ScotRail's replacement coaches seem reasonable and this leaves really only a very few stations uncovered.

4 Stations ... probably around a hundred passenger journeys per day looking at station usage figures and slewing them to add seasonallity.   I think it's a matter of opinion as to whether it's reasonable for the railway to leave 100 customers a day up the creek without a paddle, so to speak, and we'll probably have to agree to differ on that.  I grant you that the more lucrative bigger flow to and from Oban hasn't been dumped, and that Connel Ferry passengers at least have an alternative bus, and Tyndrum passengers a second station.

[Oxman]

Mr Crow conveniently forgets to mention that there was also a "hospitality host" on board who also assisted with the evacuation. The train driver was quoted as praising his colleagues for their help in evacuating the train. Guess the host was not in the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)!

He ignores the fact that all staff, I believe, are trained in evacuation procedures (its part of the induction process in FGW^▸ (First Great Western), I understand). The second person on Airdrie - Bathgate services, although principally there for revenue and customer service duties, would also be able to assist with evacuation, just like the hospitality host did.

[Ollie]

I believe, are trained in evacuation procedures (its part of the induction process in FGW^▸ (First Great Western), I understand).

Yep correct, I've never worked on train, but was put on the train evacuation course. Gives good insight.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Details of all three staff involved are given at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=6881.msg68619#msg68619