Two Scotrail trains hit landslips following heavy rain

[John Ashworth]

Two Scotrail trains hit landslips following heavy rain

BBC 18 July 2012 Last updated at 22:02

Two Scotrail trains have hit landslips, causing one to derail in Fife.

The front carriage of the Rosyth to Dunfermline service derailed at the back of Pitreavie Industrial Estate, after it struck a landslip at about 16:00.

There were 30 passengers on board and two crew but no-one was injured in the incident.

The derailment comes after another Scotrail train hit a landslip between Oban and Crianlarich, near Loch Awe.

The 12:56 Oban to Glasgow Queen Street service hit the landslip at about 13:30, although it was travelling at a slow speed and did not derail.

There were 66 passengers and three crew on board but there were no reports of any injuries.

'Heavy rainfall'

A ScotRail spokeswoman said: "Passengers were transferred into the rear two coaches, which returned to Oban. We have arranged onward transport so that people can continue their journeys."

And Network Rail said: "Engineers are on site at both locations and will work to restore services for passengers as quickly as possible.

"Sustained and heavy rainfall can change local ground conditions very quickly causing the types of incident we have experienced today."

Flooding reports

Meanwhile, sandbags were distributed by councils in central Scotland after flood alerts.

And Fife Council also said it had responded to reports of flooding, mainly in the West of Fife area covering Dunfermline, Rosyth and Limekilns.

However, BBC Scotland's weather service said the rain was expected to dissipate overnight into Thursday.

100 passengers escape as trains crash into landslides

Brian Donnelly
Senior News Reporter The Herald
THURSDAY 19 JULY 2012

TWO ScotRail trains with a total of 100 people on board smashed into landslides on opposite sides of the country, as deluges caused severe flooding across Scotland.

About 30 passengers and two crew escaped injury after the front carriage of the Newcraighall to Edinburgh service hit a mudslip between Rosyth and Dunfermline Town at 4.10pm. The front carriage derailed.

It came three hours after an Oban to Glasgow Queen Street train with 66 passengers and three crew ran into a landslide on the line between Crianlarich and Oban, near Loch Awe. The four-carriage train did not derail in the incident.

ScotRail said mud and debris had washed on to the tracks at Crianlarich as Stirlingshire took the brunt of the weather.

A spokesman added: "Passengers were transferred into the rear two coaches, which returned to Oban. We arranged onward transport so people could continue their journeys."

The second incident happened when the 2.17pm Newcraighall-Fife-Edinburgh service struck a landslide between Rosyth and Dunfermline.

ScotRail said: "The front carriage derailed. There were 30 passengers on board and two crew. There were no injuries."

The torrential rain caused rail delays and cancellations in both areas as widespread flooding caused major disruption to roads across Scotland. An amber weather alert stayed in place for the whole of yesterday.

Warnings were issued for three areas along the River Earn in Tayside, with further flood alerts in Ayrshire and Arran, Central, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee, Angus, Edinburgh, Lothians, Fife and Borders.

Roads were also waterlogged across the central region and in Lothian and Borders, police said, although there were no reports of closures.

Surface water caused disruption on the M90 at Craigend and at Admiralty junction, on M8 west of Hillington J26 and the A83, B828 and A815.

The Met Office said by today the amber alert will be lifted but there will be showers across central Scotland during the day with clearer conditions expected by Friday.

Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh City Council's transport convener, said: "A flood control co-ordination centre has been set up as part of the Council's Emergency Flood Plan.

"Drains and waterways have been cleared of debris, while river levels and hot spot areas have been continually monitored throughout the day.

"Around 7000 sandbags were ready to be deployed, some of which were delivered to households in response to residents' concerns. People can be assured that the situation will continue to be monitored."

The Fife area has been one of the worst affected. Lynne Davidson, Fife Council's technician engineer said: "We have all available resources deployed – issuing sandbags, erecting flood signs and dealing with road closures.

"Our inspectors are out regularly assessing the situation."

Transport Minister Keith Brown said there had been a meeting of the Scottish Government's resilience committee as it planned for the unseasonal weather.

He said: "The Scottish Government's Resilience Room met this morning and Transport Scotland's Multi-Agency Response Team is also keeping a close eye on the situation. We will continue to monitor the forecast closely and work with partners to ensure the public is kept updated.

Stewart Prodger, of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency's (Sepa) Flood Unit, said: "Heavy rain has caused significant rises in river levels, particularly in the Central Belt, and areas just to the north, including Fife and southern parts of Tayside.

"Since Tuesday Sepa has been putting several flood alerts in force, and flood warnings – mostly for low lying agricultural areas around the River Earn – are also active.

"Sepa will be monitoring the situation and would urge those living, working or travelling through flood risk areas to remain vigilant."