Statements

Network Rail fined £6.7m for Carmont health and safety failings

8 September 2023
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited has been fined £6.7m for health and safety failings which led to the train accident at Carmont in 2020, when three people died and a further six were injured.
Ian Prosser CBE

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited has been fined £6.7m for health and safety failings which led to the accident at Carmont, Scotland in 2020, when three people died and a further six were injured.

It follows an ORR, Police Scotland and British Transport Police joint investigation under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Ian Prosser, HM Chief Inspector of Railways, said:

"Our deepest sympathies remain with the families of Donald Dinnie, Brett McCullough and Christopher Stuchbury.

"We note the proceedings at the High Court in Aberdeen, which followed a multi-agency investigation by Police Scotland, British Transport Police and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) under the direction of Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service.

"Network Rail has made progress in implementing the safety recommendations that came from reviews of the failings that contributed to the accident. However, as highlighted in our 2023 annual ORR health and safety report, there remains much work to do as we all contend with the effects of climate change on our network.

"We must never forget what happened three years ago and we require the industry to be unrelenting in its work to maintain Britain's railways as one of the safest in Europe." 

Notes to editors

  1. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is the independent economic and safety regulator for Britain’s railways and scrutinises the performance and efficiency of England’s strategic road network.
  2. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is Scotland’s public prosecution service and death investigation authority.
  3. Network Rail Infrastructure Limited pled guilty to a charge contrary to Sections 3(1)  and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at the High Court in Aberdeen on 7 September 2023. The company was fined £6.7m.
  4. COPFS media release and statements