Updated: December 21, 2020, 7:25 am
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In the aftermath of the Stonehaven crash, our readers asked exactly what happened, how it happened, and why. We spoke to a panel of some of the UK’s leading rail experts, and leaders of rail unions, to find out more about the derailment.
The experts
Nigel Harris
Managing editor and events director at RAIL magazines – a role he has had since 1995. He has worked in railway publishing since 1981, starting as assistant editor of Steam.
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.
It is thought the operation began in March but confirmation the UK was targeted only came yesterday.
A Whitehall source told The Times: There has been a hugely sophisticated cyber espionage operation likely to have been committed by a very sophisticated state actor.
It comes after Boris Johnson announced a £1.5billion cyberforce to take down enemy computer systems and hack into enemy air defences to protect our warplanes.
It is thought the operation began in March but confirmation the UK was targeted only came yesterday (file image of GCHQ)
The Russian hackers corrupted management software from SolarWinds, a computer network based in Texas, in an effort to unlock networks.
Lancaster University Management School.
Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) is delivering the Small Business Leadership Programme (SBLP), a free 10-week training programme for senior leaders in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) supported by the UK Government Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
The SBLP is is a free, 10-week training programme for senior leaders in SMEs fully-funded by the UK Government, who have partnered with the Small Business Charter (SBC). Two new cohorts will start at Lancaster in January.
The programme will enhance small business resilience and recovery from the impact of Covid-19 and develop potential for future growth and productivity. The practical syllabus provides business leaders with access to small business and management experts at some of the UK’s leading business schools.