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Train evacuated after it ploughs into landslide a day after Stonehaven tragedy

Train landslide
Passengers were evacuated from the train in Kent after it got stuck following a landslide. (Twitter/British Transport Police)

Emergency services had to evacuate 19 passengers from a train after it got stuck after driving into a landslide.

The incident, which happened in Kent, came just 24 hours after three people were left dead when a train derailed in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire.

British Transport Police in Kent tweeted pictures of the train, which was forced to stop between West Malling and Borough Green in Kent on Thursday evening, saying 19 people had been safely evacuated.

Emergency services including police and Kent Fire and Rescue Service helped safely evacuate the passengers, though Network Rail Kent and Sussex reportedly said that rescue attempts were hindered by localised flooding.

In a tweet, BTP Kent said: “First indications are that a landslide has occurred which has caused the train not to be able to travel any further.”

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It later added: “Along with @Se_Railway @kentfirerescue @NetworkRailSE we have managed to evacuate 19 people from the train, who are being arranged a coach.

“This incident is likely to have an adverse effect on trains in the area for the next several hours. Please check before you travel!”

Emergency services inspect the site, following the derailment of the ScotRail train which cost the lives of three people, near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Britain August 13, 2020. Ben Birchall/Pool via REUTERS
Three people were killed when the ScotRail train derailed near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. (Reuters)

According to reports, Network Rail was warned about not keeping up with extreme weather events four weeks before the deadly train derailment near Stonehaven.

An annual health and safety report by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) last month noted a spike in landslips on Britain's railways, demonstrating the "vulnerability" of the network.

It also said there were six times more flooding events in 2019-20 than during the previous 12 months.

The ORR criticised Network Rail for "not keeping up with the frequency and severity of these events" in its plans to address climate change and extreme weather.