TRAIN services between Glasgow and Oban have restarted following the successful completion of operations to recover a derailed train and repair damaged tacks at Falls of Cruachan.

Work to repair sections of track damaged in a derailment on Sunday 7 June were successfully completed over the weekend with Network Rail engineers working around the clock to allow the reopening of the railway and the adjacent A85.

Reopening the road and railway signals the end of a highly-complex, week-long operation to recover the train – which involved using a 1,000 tonne crane to remove a the leading vehicle of the two-car unit, which was balanced on the embankment above the road.

This vehicle was recovered as planned on Friday afternoon with engineers then beginning the process of repairing the railway and inspecting the line for other potential rockfall sites.

David Simpson, Network Rail route director Scotland, said: “This has been a very complex operation due to the location of the site and the unique design of the road, with its limited ability to support the equipment involved.

“Our engineers literally had to strike a very difficult balancing act when positioning the crane to remove the derailed vehicle. To have completed the works in less than a week is a tribute to the professionalism of all involved.

“This has also been a real team effort and such a quick recovery has only been possible thanks to the close cooperation and support we have received from partner organisations such as Transport Scotland, the BTP, Transerv and the local emergency services.”

Meanwhile, the driver of the sricken train has been telling how he held the hands of passengers as he led them to safety.

Eight people were taken to hospital as a result of the derailment of the 18.20 from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban, which had some 60 people on board.

Driver Willie Dickson and on board colleagues Drew Hinde and Angus MacColl spoke of "a real team effort" in helping people off the train, and paid tribute to passengers who helped them.

The driver, from Grangemouth and married with two daughters, said he had applied emergency brakes on seeing "two huge rocks on the track".

He continued: "I stayed at the controls until the train came to rest. I then entered the front carriage and tried to calm passengers down before taking people by the hand and leading them off the train.

Hospitality host Drew Hinde, 38, of Glasgow, said he had used his catering trolley to steady himself following the impact.

Drew, who was worked for ScotRail for almost three years, recalled: "My initial thought was that it was surreal but we immediately helped all passengers leave the train."

Conductor Angus MacColl, 54, of Oban, said he was in the rear coach when the train came to a halt.

"I shouted 'calm down, calm down' and it worked. I got people out the back before going into the front carriage where passengers were also being taken off the train.

"Willie and Drew were brilliant – as were passengers who helped out."

ScotRail managing director Steve Montgomery paid tribute to the traincrew: "This incident could have been more serious but for their actions. They did a tremendous job in difficult circumstances and are a credit to the company."