Thirteen people were killed instantaneously and a further three died at a later time owing to injuries received.
[2] This was the worst buffer stop collision on British main line railways,[3] though exceeded by the Moorgate tragedy on the London Underground.
Collisions with buffer stops have frequently occurred over the years, the most recent fatal one in the UK being the London Cannon Street station rail crash in 1991.
The severity of the St Enoch accident was because the collision speed was as high as 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h).
The solid masonry platform behind the buffer stops presented an immovable barrier and two coaches were completely telescoped.