Posted 7th June 2010 | No Comments
Inquiry launched into Oban derailment
EIGHT people have been taken to hospital after a ScotRail train derailed on the Oban line last night. The leading coach of the two car unit caught fire, and is hanging 'precariously' over a road, according to police.
The train involved was the 18.20 from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban, and had some 60 people on board.
Police spoke of 'many walking wounded', and one passenger described 'big balls of flame'.
None of those taken to hospital are believed to have life-threatening injuries.
Emergency services used helicopters to rescue the injured, because of the remote location of the accident, near Falls of Cruachan. Police said engineers were now attempting to stabilise the leading coach, amid fears that it could slip further down the embankment.
ScotRail said that an investigation was already under way "by appropriate agencies and industry partners". Network Rail and ScotRail engineers are now trying to establish whether the derailment was caused by a track or train fault, or if vandalism could have been a factor.