HST issue between Arbroath and Montrose 01-May-26

[cats_five]

Some interesting videos on FB today of one of the Scottish HST sets towing another, and also of passengers on the trackside. This was between Arbroath and Montrose. It was said that 'both engines had failed' on the dead set.

Any idea what what the issue was?

Videos at: https://www.facebook.com/MasterAndrewygm

The videos show a group of passengers on the ground, a stationary HST set, two stationary HST sets close to each other, and there is one showing one HST set towing the other.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I reckon it was a Northbound rather than a Southbound service.

It looks like it may have been the four coach 08:40 Scotrail 'Express' service from Glasgow Queen Street to Aberdeen on 01MAY2026 (1A35), which failed after departure from Arbroath at or around 10:38.

Power car numbers on this set were 43145 and 43164. Can anyone confirm this, and the actual location?

Some aerial drone pictures on STV News' site. Link just below...

Passengers evacuated from train after service breaks down

ScotRail confirmed that the train developed a fault between Montrose and Arbroath

news.stv.tv

Extracts...

Passengers have been evacuated from a train in Angus after it broke down mid-service.

ScotRail confirmed that the train had developed a fault between Montrose and Arbroath, forcing those on board to leave the carriages...

Images from the scene show people being helped off the train.

 

[Morayshire]

Location in the STV images is north of Inverkeilor. The assisting train is partially on the embankment leading from the viaduct which crosses the Lunan.

The image of the passengers standing trackside at the foot of the ladder shows them standing where an old farm bridge used to be. Link to location in Google Maps is below

Old farm bridge

I wondered why I saw an LNER bus replacement in Aberdeen yesterday - now I know why

 

[43094]

It was indeed 1A35, 43145 + 43164, at Inverkeilor.

Passengers were evacuated via trackside, on to a 158 (possibly two coupled 158s)

Another HST set eventually rescued the original one, and dragged it away.

 

[cats_five]

It was indeed 1A35, 43145 + 43164, at Inverkeilor.

Passengers were evacuated via trackside, on to a 158 (possibly two coupled 158s)

Another HST set eventually rescued the original one, and dragged it away.

Does anyone know what the nature of the failure was?

 

[43094]

I don't, sorry!

 

[357]

It seems very unusual to have both power cars fail at the same time.

I'd also be interested to see what the fault was, if it's ever released.

 

[cats_five]

It seems very unusual to have both power cars fail at the same time.

I'd also be interested to see what the fault was, if it's ever released.

In the video showing the failed HST being hauled by another, one of it's power cars is making a noise. Think the other one was silent.

 

[Twingo37175]

This was posted in the Scotrail HST operation thread in Traction and Coaching stock

"Well it was only the one set that failed yesterday so 164 threw the first hissy fit then 145 joined in was in a particularly hard place to recover having to evac two trains to allow the rescue to happen didn't help matters"

 

[cats_five]

I love the technical terms 'hissy fit'!