Train driver hailed ‘hero’

The man driving the train that derailed at Grayrigg was hailed a hero by Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson.

Iain Black from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, stayed at the controls as the train careered off the rails.

Despite suffering a broken neck, he made a mobile phone call to his girlfriend, a manager with Virgin Trains, to stop all other trains on the line.

The day after the crash, Sir Richard visited the scene and said “he is definitely a hero”. He went on: “The driver came around the corner, the line was defective and the train went off the line. But he has carried on sitting in his carriage for half a mile, running the train on the stone.

“He could have tried to get back and protect himself but he didn’t and he has ended up quite badly injured.”

Mr Black was given a special contribution honour at the Scottish Transport Awards in June 2015.

Sir Richard, right, praised the bravery of Mr Black, now retired.