A trade union boss has accused the UK transport secretary of “treading on the feelings” of those who knew those who died in last month’s Stonehaven rail crash, after he said the site looked “like a Hornby train set thrown up in the air”.
Kevin Lindsay, organiser for train drivers’ union ASLEF in Scotland, hit out at Grant Shapps’ comment in the Commons today, calling the remark “glib”.
Driver Brett McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie and passenger Christopher Stuchbury were killed when a Scotrail service came off the tracks following heavy rain on August 12.
Mr Lindsay said: “It is unfortunate in the extreme that the Secretary of State for Transport should make such a glib remark.
“This was a real accident, involving real people – three of whom died, and six of whom were injured – and a real train.
“It was not a Hornby model train set thrown up in the air in a Tory government minister’s playroom.
Transport Secretary describes train wreckage as ‘Hornby train set thrown into air’
“Mr Shapps really should think more carefully about what he says and how he says it, because he is treading on the feelings of the families and friends and colleagues of those who died.”
Mr Shapps was being questioned at the House of Commons about the rail industry when he made the comparison.
The tragedy was raised by Labour who asked about privatisation and the UK suppliers in the industry.
Mr Shapps said: “I went to the scene of the tragedy.
“I was taken over in a helicopter. It was like a Hornby train set thrown up in the air.
“And our thoughts and prayers are with, not just the three who died, but those who were injured and the emergency workers and the brave people who rescued them.
“Our thoughts are with them all.
“The House will have noticed that I issued the Network Rail interim report on Stonehaven a week or two back which comes to some very important interim conclusions and I’ll update the House further with the full report shortly.”
