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Report on the Collision that occurred on 31st May 1975 near Rutherglen Station in the Scottish Region British Railways

Document Summary

The report into the collision between a freight train and a passenger train at Rutherglen in 1975.

This document was published on 23rd July 1976 by Department of the Environment.

It was written by Major P. M. Olver.

This item is linked to the Accident at Rutherglen on 31st May 1975

The original document format was Stapled Book, and comprised 12 pages.

This document was kindly sourced from Nick Smith and is in our Accident reports collection. It was added to the Archive on 28th September 2006.

Copyright Information

This document is Crown Copyright, and is subject to the terms governing the reproduction of crown copyright material. Depending on the status and age of the original document, you may need an OPSI click-use license if you wish to reproduce this material, and other restrictions may apply. Please see this explanation for further details.

"On a fine sunny morning, the 08.25 Glasgow Central-Hamilton-Glasgow Central electric multiple-unit passenger train, consisting of six coaches, having stopped at Rutherglen Station on its inward journey, was crossing from the Down Slow line to the Down Fast line when it was struck by the 12.45 (30th May) Northfleet to Uddingston diesel hauled cement train which was proceeding in the Up direction along the Down Slow line towards Rutherglen. As a result of the collision, the leading four coaches of the passenger train were derailed, as was the locomotive of the cement train: the rear two coaches of the passenger train and all the wagons of the cement train remained on the line. The overhead electric power was immediately discharged as a result of the collision.

The emergency services were promptly alerted and were quickly on the scene. Thirty four passengers and three railway staff were injured in the collision and all except one passenger, who unfortunately was trapped, were quickly removed to hospital; all except one were discharged the same day. The trapped passenger was seriously injured, having been pinned between the side of the leading coach and the ballast below it. He was released by firemen, who rapidly jacked up the coach and then he was taken to the Victoria Hospital Infirmary at 09.55. I am glad to report that, after a period in the intensive care unit, he made a good recovery."

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