Map showing weather conditions at 5.30am on August 12
Map showing weather conditions at 7am on August 12
Rail authorities cancelled part of the service and started it from Aberdeen at 7.18am assuming that, because it was dry in Aberdeen when they made the decision around 5.30am, the risk of flooding there was much lower.
But by the time that amended service was ready to roll out of Aberdeen station – at 7.18am – the thunderstorms had reached the Granite City – something the bosses would not have been able to predict at 5.30am.
Why was the train that crashed allowed to leave?
This a question posed by loved ones of the victims and union officials.