Bridge parapet failure occurs just a mile from Aberdeenshire crash site

摘要

THE failure on January 15 of a section of bridge parapet around a mile north from the site of last August's fatal HST accident at Carmont is being investigated. Part of the retaining wall at rail level of the bridge which spans Carron Water has collapsed, and it is known this bridge was inspected by Network Rail engineers in the weeks after the Carmont crash as part of a wider inspection of structures. Network Rail says the failure of the parapet was related to the weather, but had not been caused by a landslip. Rail services were suspended and indications on the Scotrail website were repairs might not be completed until February 8 because of the remote location and type of damage to be repaired. Rail replacement bus service operated between Aberdeen and Montrose and a rail shuttle between Stonehaven and Inverurie between 0700-1900. Network Rail has identified five other bridges with similar characteristics between Montrose and Aberdeen, and inspected a further 21 bridges as a precaution. Worries about the incident has been raised by Gordon Martin, the regional organiser of the RMT union who said: "I have raised concerns with Network Rail about the number of incidents on the railway infrastructure. We will be seeking a meeting with Network Rail once the facts have been established."