Railway stations across the UK fell silent in memory of three people killed in the Stonehaven rail tragedy.
Family, colleagues and members of the public gathered in remembrance of driver Brett McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie and passenger Christopher Stuchbury exactly one week on from the accident which claimed the lives of the trio.
People observed the minute silence at 9.43am across the country, from Aberdeen to Waterloo Station in London.
In the Granite City, family members of McCullough, Dinnie and Stuchbury were amongst those who gathered for a wreath-laying ceremony.
Also looking on in Aberdeen was Nicola Whyte, the hero who walked three miles from the derailed train while injured to raise the alarm, with her arm in a sling and her foot in a walker boot.
Dereck Grant, the railway chaplain for the north of Scotland, spoke as the ceremony took place, leading a prayer for those who lost their lives or were injured, and everyone else affected by the tragedy.
Scotland's Railway fell silent this morning, to remember Brett McCullough, Donald Dinnie and Christopher Stuchbury, who died in the Stonehaven derailment on Wednesday 12 August 2020.
Our hearts remain broken and will do for a long time. pic.twitter.com/aGIvM9VlTM
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) August 19, 2020
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon attended the minute silence at Edinburgh Waverley station. A large crowd of people also observed the event at Glasgow Queen Street.
Alex Hynes, managing director of ScotRail, said: “Today is a very sombre day for Scotland’s Railway.
“We will mourn the passing of Brett, Donald, Christopher, and the tragic events of last week for a long time to come.
“Our hearts remain broken, but together with our railway family, the local community, and people across the country, we will support their family, friends, and one another through this terrible time.”
People across the UK took to social media to post images of the emotional scenes at the country’s stations.
Rail staff stand in Waterloo station in London during a minute's silence to mark one week since the Stonehaven train derailment which killed three people.
📷Kirsty O'Connor/PA Images – contact us at https://t.co/mWFngz6oQA#stonehaven pic.twitter.com/s26MpqlFex
— PA Images (@PAImages) August 19, 2020
This morning we held 1 minute of silence in memory of those who tragically lost their lives in the incident at #Carmont near #Stonehaven 1 week ago. 🤍
Thank you to all who took part in these moments of reflection. @NetworkRailSCOT pic.twitter.com/CnQQPUQgh9
— Birmingham New Street (@NetworkRailBHM) August 19, 2020
Today at 09:43 a one minute silence will be observed for the victims of the Stonehaven Rail Accident.
— London Overground (@LDNOverground) August 19, 2020
Thank you to everyone across the network who observed the minute’s silence this morning #RailwayFamily #stonehaven pic.twitter.com/2D764j5CEU
— Greater Anglia News (@GreaterAngliaPR) August 19, 2020
The three victims of the derailment were on board the 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street train when it came off the tracks near Carmont on Wednesday, August 12.
An investigation into the derailment has been launched by police and the Office for Road and Rail.
However an early assessment of the tragedy by the Rail Accident Investigator Branch (RAIB) found a landslip caused the incident.
