Ballast train crash shuts Scottish line

The Kilmarnock to Dumfries line was due to remain closed until at least August 17, after a derailment on August 1 involving two Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 66s at Logan, near Cumnock in East Ayrshire. 

The derailment occurred when a train full of ballast and sand was in collision with an empty train on a weekend Network Rail possession, during routine track replacement work. 

Inbound DRS 66428 collided with the empties behind 66305 at approximately 1120, as it brought supplies to the work site. Seven wagons and 66428 were derailed. 

DRS declined to comment on the damage caused to the locomotives, both of which were being driven by drivers hired by DRS from another company. Nobody was injured during the incident, but the Rail Accident Investigation Branch is investigating how such an incident happened during a permanent way possession in daylight.

• For more on this story see RAIL 781 published on August 19 2015