At least one person has died after a ScotRail train derailed and crashed down an embankment near Aberdeen amid reports of further ‘serious injuries’.
The train came off the tracks on the Dundee-Aberdeen line at about 9.40am today close to the old Carmont railway station, near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire.
Thirty emergency vehicles and an air ambulance were sent to the scene. It is claimed the Class 43 Inter7City train had three crew members and six passengers on board.
At least one person has died according to unconfirmed reports, sources told the PA news agency. Dramatic video footage showed smoke billowing from the area with at least seven ambulances on the scene alongside police cars and fire engines.
The RMT union said it was a ‘rescue operation’ and nearby Aberdeen Royal Infirmary reported a major incident.
It comes after severe flooding in the area overnight which led to flash flooding in Aberdeen and widespread disruption across the ScotRail network.
Smoke is billowing from the area after the train came off the tracks at 10am this morning close to the old Carmont railway station, near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire
Stonehaven is served by ScotRail trains heading north to Aberdeen and south to Edinburgh and Glasgow. It is also a calling point between Montrose and Inverurie.
Network Rail had tweeted a video filmed in the same area around the time of the incident, showing major flooding and saying trains could not operate on the line.
Richard Clinnick, the news editor of Rail magazine, tweeted: ‘The front power car and all four of ScotRail set HA22 went down the embankment near Stonehaven.
‘The ScotRail IC7 set was returning north on the Down Main having encountered a landslip further south when the accident happened.
‘Incident log suggests three crew members and six passengers on board. At least one Mk 3 was on fire.’
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Andrew Bowie said the local hospital had declared a major incident.
He said: ‘It’s obviously a terrible situation, a train derailment, the emergency services are on the scene.
‘I’ve already spoken to Grant Shapps, who has spoken to Network Rail and the British Transport Police who are obviously investigating and assisting.
‘I am aware that Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has declared a major incident.’
Speaking before First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon said a major incident has been declared over the Stonehaven train incident.
The Scottish First Minister said that, although ‘details are still emerging’, there are ‘early reports of serious injuries’.
‘My immediate thoughts and the thoughts of those across the chamber are with all those involved.’
The Scottish Government’s resilience room is also now operational, and the First Minister said she will convene a meeting this afternoon.
Mick Lynch, the assistant general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said: ‘RMT is aware of the major incident at Stonehaven and our reps are liaising directly at senior level with both Scotrail and Network Rail.
‘Our priority at this time is to support our members, their colleagues and their families and to do all that we can to assist the rescue operation which RMT members are currently involved in.
‘The facts behind this incident will need to be established in due course but at this stage we are focused on support and assistance and our thoughts are with all those impacted by this tragedy.’
Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association general secretary Manuel Cortes said, ‘Our thoughts are with those caught up in this derailment, their loved ones and the emergency services and our members who are now involved in a rescue operation.
‘Our union has had concerns about the amount of hours that some of our members who maintain have been doing. However, it’s far too early to speculate whether this may have been a contributing factor to this morning’s incident.’
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: ‘Just met urgently with Network Rail for a briefing on Stonehaven derailment.
‘British Transport Police and Network Rail are on location, along with rail workers who were nearby. The UK Government will provide every support. My thoughts are with those involved and their families.’
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘We currently have multiple resources in attendance at a train derailment near Stonehaven, including six ambulances, our special operations response teams, air ambulance, patient transport vehicles and the Scotstar emergency service. More information will follow when we have it.’
Rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) sent an inspector, with a spokesman saying: ‘We’re aware of an incident involving a train derailment near Stonehaven.
‘Emergency services are in attendance and an ORR inspector will be attending.
The incident happened on the Dundee-Aberdeen line at about 10am this morning
‘We will work with Rail Accident Investigation Branch, British Transport Police and the emergency services to investigate the full circumstances of what has happened.’
A British Transport Police spokesman said: ‘We’re currently responding to an incident on the line in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, where a train has derailed.
‘Officers were called to the scene at 9.43am and remain there alongside paramedics and the fire brigade.’
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘A report was received of a train having derailed near Stonehaven at 9.40am on Wednesday, August 12.
‘Emergency services are currently in attendance and the incident is ongoing.’
At least seven ambulances were on the scene alongside police cars and fire engines
A ScotRail spokesman said: ‘We’re assisting the emergency services with an incident near Stonehaven, and will provide more information when available.’
A Network Rail spokesman said: ‘We are working alongside the emergency services to respond to an incident involving a train near Stonehaven.
‘It is too early to confirm the exact nature and severity of the incident and more details will be made available once known.’
Earlier, ScotRail posted a message on Twitter shortly after 6.30am warning that services across Scotland would be disrupted due to ‘extremely heavy rain flooding’.
A video shared on Facebook at 7.30am showed heavy flooding in Stonehaven.