RAIL ACCIDENT (LUNAN BAY) (Hansard, 27 October 1975)

§ The Minister for Transport (Dr. John Gilbert)
Yes, Sir. Shortly after 11 a.m. on Sunday 26th October 1975, the locomotive of the 10.15 a.m. passenger train from Aberdeen to London broke clown between Montrose and Arbroath. At about 12.28 p.m. a locomotive going to the assistance of the train struck the rear coach at speed, severely damaging it.
I regret to inform the House that, according to my latest information, one 1027 passenger was killed and 40 people were taken to hospital of whom 15 are still detained. I am sure the House will join with me in expressing condolences to the bereaved and best wishes for a speedy recovery to those who were injured. An internal inquiry is being held by British Railways and there will be a public inquiry which will be conducted by Major C. F. Rose, an Inspecting Officer of Railways. The date and place of his inquiry will be announced shortly. It would not be proper to make a further statement until the inquiry is complete.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
I join with the Minister in his expressions of sympathy for the family of the young mother who lost her life in this accident and for the injured and their families.
I wish to pay tribute to the rescue workers involved—firemen, police, doctors and hospitals and railwaymen. I have been in direct touch with those involved and there is no doubt that the rescue operations were efficiently and properly carried out. Those on the spot told me that the accident could have been very much worse but for the grace of God.
I am grateful to the Minister for his assurances about the setting up of an inquiry. The accident has certain unusual features in that a relief engine was proceeding to a known location where another train had broken down. Will the Minister give an assurance that the two matters to which I shall refer will be covered by the inquiry? Was there, perhaps, a failure in communications concerning the place where the train had broken down? Secondly, was there, by some horrible coincidence, a second mechanical failure on the relief train as well as on the original train? Will the Minister also assure the House that the inquiry will be held in public?

§ Dr. Gilbert
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the remarks he has made about the emergency services. It would be wrong for me to anticipate the results of the inquiry, but I am sure that it will cover the matters he has raised.

§ Mr. Welsh
Does the Minister accept that the accident could have been very much worse, although that is no consolation for the loss of life and the distress caused to those who were injured? I was on the spot within a couple of hours 1028 of the accident occurring, and I wonder whether the Minister is aware of the speed and efficiency of the rescue services—the fire, police and ambulance services—and all who helped them yesterday, who can be proud of the work they did. Will the Minister see that the investigation is speedily completed to ensure that a similar accident never again occurs?

§ Dr. Gilbert
I only wish that I could give the hon. Gentleman the assurance that accidents will never happen again. Alas, it is not within my power to do so. I take the hon. Gentleman's point that the casualties could have been much higher than they were. The fact that they were kept so low was no doubt in considerable part due to the speedy reaction of the emergency services, to which the hon. Gentleman also paid tribute.

§ Mr. Grimond
The Liberals, too, would like to be associated with the regret expressed, the tributes which have been paid to the emergency services and the condolences to those affected. It is believed, rightly or wrongly—perhaps wrongly—that on this important railway line the equipment is somewhat out of date. Will that matter be covered either at the inquiry or in correspondence with British Railways?

§ Dr. Gilbert
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his remarks. I am sure that the point he has mentioned will be taken account of in the inquiry.