Experimental results pertaining to the static axial loading of hybrid square rail vehicle tubular components, made of foam-cored composite sandwich panels with integral energy absorbing inserts, are reported. The structural configuration tested is the “corrugated” core system. Failure modes at macro- and microscale and the energy absorbing of the collapsed structural components are presented. The crashworthy behaviour of these small-scale body shells seems to be greatly affected by the structural design and the material properties of the composite sandwich components. The effect of diverse triggering conditions (“chamfer” and “tulip” triggering structures) at one end of the specimens tested is investigated and analyzed and distinctions arising between trigger types are also highlighted where appropriated.