South Western Railway (SWR) has responded to the recent findings of the Salisbury train crash investigation which indicates that ‘low adhesion between the wheels and the track’ was the likely cause of the collision.

SWR not only commented on the investigation but also paid tribute to the injured driver, describing him as “a deeply respected colleague, who has over 50 years’ experience“. The train company went on to say that the driver acted in an “impeccable way in a valiant attempt to keep his passengers safe”.

A spokesperson from South Western Railway said, “RAIB’s statement on their initial investigation into the train collision near Salisbury on Sunday points to low adhesion between the wheels and the track as the most likely cause. Their early assessment shows the South Western Railway driver reacted correctly to the signals by braking to slow the train down.

“While the investigation has a long way to run, these initial findings are helpful to stop speculation and focus attention on the evidence about the likely cause of the collision.

They added, “Our thoughts are with all those caught up in this serious accident and we will continue to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities as they continue their investigations.

“We want to pay tribute to our driver who was injured on Sunday night. He is a deeply respected colleague, who has over 50 years’ experience of driving on this route and an excellent professional track record. All our drivers are regularly assessed to the highest standards and he has fully satisfied all requirements.

“Initial findings indicate that the driver acted in an impeccable way in a valiant attempt to keep his passengers safe, staying at the controls throughout. We thank him for his actions and we wish him a speedy recovery as he continues to be treated in hospital“.