Stonehaven
Dealing with tragedy on the railways As investigations continue into the tragic Stonehaven train derailment, Network Rail’s Liam Sumpter and Ross Moran open up about the mindset and emotions on the day
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t is the news that no one ever wants to hear. In amongst control messages about the impact of heavy rain and thunderstorms overnight on the railways in Scotland was a message reporting that a passenger train had derailed at Carmont, near Stonehaven. It led to the declaring of a major incident, with dozens of emergency service vehicles racing to the ScotRail train which hit a landslide and derailed. Tragically three people – driver Brett Robroyston Station McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie and passenger Christopher Stuchbury – lost their lives, Unlocking the Power of Composites and six others were injured. the Rail Industry Whilstfor investigations continue, Liam Sumpter, Route Director for Network Rail Scotland, and Ross Moran, Head of Operations for Network Rail Scotland, have spoken honestly and openly about “I drove straight to control on the basis that dealing with the tragedy and the impact in the I knew the incident itself was over three hours days and months after. away and I’d be no use in a car for that amount of “It was around 9.45am when I saw the control time getting to a remote location. I knew straight message saying there had been a derailment away that my role was to go into control and try involving a passenger train, as I was getting and coordinate things from a senior leadership my head around all the incidents going on perspective there.” after a night of thunderstorms and heavy rain,” Liam said that as he pulled into control it said Liam. brought back memories of his time as Regional “Immediately it was clear it was serious and Director at Northern (Arriva Rail North), when in the coming minutes there were a couple more he was responsible for the management of control messages saying there were reports that Manchester Victoria station on the night of the the train was on fire. terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena in 2017. “The first thing I did was contact Alex Hynes “Looking back to 2017, the arena was just (Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway), above the station and my team were the very first Unlocking the Power of Composites who was with the Cabinet Secretary Michael responders to the bombing. I was thinking ‘Crikey, for the Rail Industry Matheson at the time, and I emailed the it doesn’t seem like two minutes since I had to deal Chief Executive. with something tragic.’
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content is published in good faith. “I can’t compare Manchester and Stonehaven, but what I did know is that these things mercifully don’t happen too often, and I knew a lot of the would behigh dealing with something like this •team Lightweight, strength fencing and for the first time so we had to make sure there was gate solutions available. and non corrosive •support Non conductive “I starteddesign to reflect onbe ‘What did installed I learn from • Modular can rapidly ‘What do I needand to remember?’, •Manchester?’, Bespoke Structural Design CAD Services and really available trying to get a clear picture in my of day whatdispatch needed doing and who I needed to •head Same on standard stockto.” holdings speak Whilst Liam was at control, Ross Moran had immediately arranged for staff to be on site ahead of making his way to Carmont – a three-hour drive – to+44 lead(0)1255 the operation at the scene. Tel: 440291 info@duracomposites.com He himself had also experienced major www.duracomposites.com incidents during his time at CalMac, with three boat collisions into piers.
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November 2020 | 5
