Stonehaven train derailment: Three dead after Sturgeon declares ‘extremely serious’ incident in Scotland amid severe flooding

Three people have died and six others injured after a train derailed in Aberdeenshire.

Dozens of emergency service vehicles and an air ambulance attended the scene near Stonehaven where the ScotRail train crashed around 9.40am on Wednesday.

The train was the 06.38 Aberdeen to Stonehaven, made up of a locomotive and four carriages, and it is thought to have derailed amid heavy rain and flooding.

The train driver and conductor were reportedly among those killed.

Boris Johnson has said the fatal crash must “never happen again” as he joined Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, in paying tribute to the victims.

The PM also called for a probe into the impact of “substantial rainfall on vulnerable infrastructure” amid fears the crash was caused by a landslip due to torrential rain.

Ms Sturgeon described the incident as “tragic” and thanked the emergency services for their efforts.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Johnson said: “One of the reasons that this accident is so shocking is of course that this type of accident on our railways is thankfully so rare.

“But our thoughts are very much with those who’ve lost their lives, their families and of course those who’ve been injured in the derailment.

“I’ve talked to first minister Nicola Sturgeon about what has happened and clearly the most important thing now is that the British Transport Police, who are in charge of the investigation, find out exactly what happened, and that we all work together with Network Rail, with everybody else who’s responsible to make sure that nothing like this happens again.”

He added: “As I understand there was about a month’s worth of rainfall in a very short period which undoubtedly aggravated the problem there.

“But I think what we’ll have to do is wait and see what the British Transport Police come up with, what exactly they identify as the cause of this derailment and working with Network Rail, with everybody, make sure that nothing like this happens again.”

Writing on Twitter, Ms Sturgeon said: “My deepest condolences are with the loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.

“I have just been updated by Network Rail and the emergency services on the ongoing operation. My thanks go to them, and my thoughts remain with everyone affected.”

The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said his department was on hand to provide any support needed to the Scottish government, adding lessons would be learned from the incident.

He said: “The safety of passengers and staff is and has always been our upmost priority and we will ensure that lessons are learned from this tragic incident once the Rail Accident Investigation Branch has carried out its investigation.”

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