A Scotrail passenger train has derailed in Aberdeenshire amid heavy rain and flooding.

Serious injuries have been reported and dozens of emergency service vehicles, including an air ambulance, went to the scene at Carmont, abot four miles from Stonehaven at about 9.40am.

Rail industry sources said the suspected cause of the incident was a landslip.

The train involved was the Aberdeen to Stonehaven service, made up of a locomotive and four carriages.

It is understood the locomotive and three carriages derailed and slid down an embankment.

An Office of Rail and Road spokesperson said: “We’re aware of an incident involving a train derailment in Stonehaven.

"Emergency services are in attendance and an ORR inspector will be attending.

“We will work with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, the British Transport Police and emergency services to investigate the full circumstances of what has happened."

At the end of first minister's questions, Nicola Sturgeon committed to ensure there was one point of contact for anybody who is worried about their relatives or friends.

This was in response to question from Tory MSP Bill Bowman who said many people would be concerned their loved ones were involved in the derailment at Stonehaven.

The first minister said she was anxious to leave the chamber to address the major incident and added that the emergency services may have already instigated a point of contact during FMQs.

The train went off the track near the village of Carmont in Aberdeenshire. That's around four miles south of the town of Stonehaven. The rail route links Stonehaven to Aberdeen about 20 miles away to the north and Dundee, about 50 miles south of the incident.

Ben Philip
BBC Scotland

We know it was a passenger train that was involved in this major incident near Stonehaven but the number of injuries and people involved is so far unconfirmed.

It appears a locomotive and three carriages have derailed and gone down an embankment.

We are in an area of Stonehaven called Carmont. The roads around here are very narrow and emergency services have been rushing to the scene throughout the morning.

Speaking at First Minister's questions, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "I am anxious to get out of the chamber so I can firstly be updated on the current situation but also to make sure all these practical arrangements are being put in place.

"As I said earlier on, I spoke to Network Rail, to the police and fire services, just before coming into the chamber. The details that were available then were still minimal because this is an ongoing situation. It has happened in a very difficult location for emergency services to access.

"I know and appreciate that there will be many families who will be anxious if they believe they had relatives who were on that train.

"We will do everything we can to make sure the emergency services are supported, that families are supported".

David Shanks
BBC Scotland reporter

I am at the scene which is about four miles from Stonehaven in an incredibly rural location.

Around us is green fields and forest and just beyond is a line of trees.

There is a gully where you can see a small wisp of smoke coming out from behind the trees.

When we arrived a few hours ago that was a strong billowing of smoke where we believe that the train derailed.

Just to the right of the train derailment there are dozens of police, fire and ambulance vehicles.

In the past half an hour there have been a number of vehicles whizzing past us at pace.

We don't know how many people are injured or how badly. Details are still emerging.

Ben Philip
BBC Scotland

The initial report was received at about 9.40 this morning. We know it was a passenger train that was involved.

It is a "major incident" but so far no injuries have been confirmed.

We know the train was made up of two locomotives - at the front and back - and four carriages.

I'm told that the locomotive at the front and three passenger carriages have left the track and are now sitting on an embankment.

We are in a rural area near Stonehaven, an area called Carmont.

The emergency services have been rushing to the scene down windy country roads.

There are about 30 vehicles at the scene including two air ambulances and a coastguard helicopter. Smoke can be seen billowing over the trees but we can't see the track or the train because of access restrictions.

It is not yet clear what the cause of the incident was but we have had extreme rainfall in the area.

The train involved was the Aberdeen to Stonehaven Scotrail passenger service, made up of a locomotive and four carriages.

It is understood the locomotive and three carriages derailed and slid down an embankment.

Unions called the crash a "tragedy" as a major incident was declared at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Ben Philip
BBC Scotland

There has been a major emergency service response here in Aberdeenshire.

We are about four miles from Stonehaven station and emergency vehicles are continuing to arrive at the scene.

There are about 30 vehicles including eight ambulances and a coastguard helicopter.

They are all parked in a field about 300 metres from where I am standing.

Smoke can be seen coming out of the tree-lined area where the railway track runs.

We can't actually see the train due to access being restricted.

Torrential rain and thunderstorms have caused flooding and travel disruption across many parts of central and eastern Scotland.

British Transport Police said its officers had been called to the scene of the derailment at about 09:43.

It said paramedics and the fire brigade were also in attendance.

Image source, PA Media

Stonehaven is served by ScotRail trains heading north to Aberdeen and south to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

It is also a calling point for trains running between Montrose and Inverurie.

Video posted to social media by Network Rail Scotland earlier on Wednesday showed a landslip on the track at Carmont, believed to be close to the scene of the crash.

It is unclear whether the landslip was directly related to the derailment.Network Rail tweeted at 9.49am: "At Carmont, we've had reports of a landslip, which means services can't operate between Dundee & Aberdeen."

Police had said reports of the train derailment were first received at 9.40am.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a "major incident" had been declared over a train derailment west of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire.

She said that, although "details are still emerging", there are "early reports of serious injuries".

The fire service, police and ambulance service went to the scene near Stonehaven at about 9.40am on Wednesday.

Smoke could be seen billowing from the train on the track in the countryside, while several emergency service vehicles could be seen parked in a field.