Investigation launched into Flying Scotsman crash in Aviemore that put two people in hospital

An investigation has been launched into the Flying Scotsman crash last month that left two people requiring hospital treatment.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said the collision between the 100-year-old steam locomotive and set of stationary passenger coaches happened at a speed of about 7mph.

The RAIB said the incident injured a “number of passengers and staff”, with one passenger and one staff member being taken to hospital.

Police Scotland previously confirmed the two people were taken to hospital as a “precaution” and, as no criminality was established, it had referred the matter to the RAIB.

The crash happened at Aviemore Station in the Scottish Highlands at around 6.05pm on 29 September.

No vehicles derailed as a result of the incident, however some damage was caused to the vehicles involved.

Heritage company Strathspey Railway owns the section of the station where the crash happened.

In a statement, the RAIB said: “Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events leading up to the accident.”

The RAIB investigation will also consider:

• The actions of those involved and anything that may have influenced them.
• The management of the railway staff involved in the accident, including their training and competence.
• The method of operation in use when the collision occurred and the policies and procedures in place for managing such operations.
• The extent and type of any injuries and damage caused, and how they occurred.
• Any underlying management factors.

The RAIB added: “Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.

“We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation.”

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Flying Scotsman tours were cancelled for a week following the crash and resumed on Saturday 7 October after the locomotive – owned by the National Railway Museum in York – was passed as fit for operation following a mechanical inspection.