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Rail services in the South East have been disrupted this weekend following a train derailment near Lewes in East Sussex. The incident involved a train carrying approximately 150 passengers, with three carriages leaving the tracks on Thursday. As a result, two individuals sustained serious injuries while 18 others suffered less severe harm. Authorities have confirmed that none of the injuries are currently believed to be life-threatening.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has deployed inspectors to the site to conduct a thorough investigation. Their work includes examining the railway infrastructure and reviewing evidence such as CCTV footage, signalling records, and train data. This derailment occurred shortly before another incident on Friday involving a Greater Anglia train near Wickford in Essex. In response, Southern Rail has suspended train operations between London Victoria and Eastbourne for the weekend, closing the line between Haywards Heath and Lewes indefinitely. Replacement bus services are arranged for affected stations including Cooksbridge and Plumpton.
Passengers aboard the 14:24 Southern service from London Victoria to Eastbourne described chaotic scenes during the derailment. Rachel Heath recounted the train “bumping up and down and then jostling from side to side like a seesaw,” causing widespread panic among travellers. She recalled feeling as though the carriage almost lifted off the ground before it toppled onto its side, an experience she described as “very, very harrowing.” Another passenger, Tracy McGregor, compared the derailment to “a metal tube carving through the earth,” noting the large cloud of mud and earth that enveloped those on board when the train came to a halt.
Efforts to remove the derailed carriages are underway, with a crane being readied to assist recovery operations. Emergency services, alongside Network Rail and investigators, continue to work from a temporary command centre near the scene. British Transport Police has called on any passengers who have not yet been contacted to come forward. John Whitehouse, chief executive of Greater Thameslink Railway, which operates Southern, emphasized the rarity of such events and reassured the public on the overall safety of the railway. He also mentioned that speed restrictions during hot weather are carefully managed but were not a factor in this particular derailment, a matter to be further examined by the RAIB.
Lewes District Council’s deputy leader, Christine Robinson, praised the prompt and effective response of emergency teams, especially East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, for minimizing the number of injuries. A local community hub was opened to provide support, including medical care and shelter from the high temperatures affecting the area. Travelers heading to Eastbourne, which is hosting a popular air show this weekend, have been advised to use alternative coastal routes via Brighton and to monitor updates ahead of Monday travel plans
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