TRAIN driver Iain Black, who was seriously injured in the Grayrigg train crash in Cumbria last year, has opened a new talent academy for Virgin Trains in Crewe.

Iain, 47, was at the controls of the Pendolino train when it was derailed by faulty points north of Preston in February 2007 and plunged down an embankment.

One person died in the crash, which also left other members of the train’s crew injured. Iain sustained serious neck and leg injuries.

The driver, from Dumbarton, Scotland, was hailed a hero when it was revealed he kept his cool and tried to brake the train, which was heading for Glasgow Central.

Iain is still at home recovering from his injuries but was invited to open the new academy, home of the train operator’s Talent Team, which looks after recruitment, training and career development.

There is also an emergency response suite where staff can be skilled-up to deal with major incidents.

People attending the academy will range from new recruits learning basics to management teams on development programmes.

New starters to the company will spend their first few weeks at the academy, which is in Crewe Business Park, a 10-minute walk from Crewe station.

A few weeks before opening the academy, Iain was present to watch paramedic Graham Hundley, who climbed into the train cab at Grayrigg to help him, receive a special award from North West Ambulance Services.

Three rail workers arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over the Grayrigg crash have had their bail extended.

Two Network Rail employees from Tebay, and a third worker from Preston, Lancashire, were also arrested. The men, aged 46, 60 and 64, will now report to police in June.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “All three were due to answer bail today but this has been extended until the end of June pending further enquiries.”

An initial report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) blamed a faulty set of points for the crash on 23 February 2007.

A later report by Network Rail found systematic failures in track patrolling and management.

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