OFF THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW
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DALWHINNIE - At about 0300 on April 10th, 2021, ScotRail HST set HA19 composed of power cars 43012 and 43015 and 5 coaches, derailed at the south end of Dalwhinnie Station. The train was a test train being manned by the Rail Operations Group carrying out clearance tests on the line from Perth, so there were no passengers on board. As the train passed over a set of crossovers at a speed of 33mph, the rear coach and power car, 43012, derailed. Permitted speed on this crossover is 15mph and it is not permitted to be used in this direction. Both sets of points changed although the signals were not pulled off and all instruments in the signalbox indicated that they had not been changed. There was not much damage to the train and it was rerailed and returned to Haymarket Depot on April 18th after RAIB investigations. To enable the line t be reopened quickly, the damaged crossover was removed and replaced with plain track, the line reopening on April 15th.