[3] The relatively light sentence reflected the opinion of the jury that other factors had played an equal, if not more important role in the accident.

[2] Whilst not completely exonerating the driver, a more recent analysis drew attention to the extreme weather and highlighted a number of organizational failures which contributed to the disaster.

[6][7] Among the casualties was the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) Alexander William Black, who was severely injured in the crash and died shortly thereafter.

[8] The Board of Trade Inquiry placed primary responsibility on the driver of one of the trains who had "failed to heed instructions to drive with caution".

[9] It also discussed the role of alcohol and said that "the proximity of the Victoria Bar to the up platform is a very undesirable feature in the surroundings of Arbroath station.