Two people sustained serious injuries when a Southern train derailed near Lewes railway station in East Sussex on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a major emergency response. The incident involved an estimated 150 passengers, and British Transport Police confirmed that a further 18 people suffered less serious injuries.
Derailment and Initial Response
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 3:55pm, with the public warned to avoid the area. The 14:24 Southern service from London Victoria to Eastbourne came off the tracks on a stretch between Lewes and Haywards Heath, and three of the eight carriages overturned. Passengers were initially trapped inside the overturned carriages, and images from the scene showed people standing on carriages lying on their sides in a countryside area.
South East Coast Ambulance confirmed shortly before 10pm that two people had been taken to major trauma centres with serious injuries. A spokesperson for the ambulance service said, “Patients have been assessed and treated at the scene, with some transported to local hospitals for further treatment and care. A number of passengers who did not require hospital treatment have been taken to a local community centre, where they are being supported by partner agencies. This remains a complex and ongoing multi-agency response.”
Passenger Accounts
Rob Bradley, travelling with his six-year-old daughter Mabel, described the moment they “felt the train speeding up and starting to rock.” In carriage four, they felt the train “jump vertically upwards,” and he knew it was a derailment. “The emergency brakes went on the train, and everything got thrown forward,” he told BBC News, adding that the train “skidded for quite a while before it stopped.” He saw the fifth carriage go onto its side, with smoke and dust pouring into the carriage, and witnessed people with head injuries, blood, and cuts. Bradley and Mabel remained on the train for about an hour and a half, describing the scene as “pandemonium for a while.”
Yana Ludwig, 56, travelling alone, said that after hearing banging, everything “just went topsy-turvy.” She was propped up over another passenger and was “pretty banged up.” She estimated it took around 20 minutes for emergency services to arrive, noting the location appeared difficult for responders to reach.
Emergency Services and Aftermath
A BBC reporter at the scene described a “large emergency service presence,” including three helicopters waiting in a field. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said 10 fire engines had been deployed, along with a command support unit, technical rescue teams, and other resources. The rear carriage was “completely on its side at the bottom of the small embankment,” and passengers were escorted to a housing estate along a dusty track. Photos showed people helping one another climb out of the carriages and assisting with ladders.
All passengers had been evacuated safely by 7:30pm, though a “major incident” remained declared. Train services were suspended between Lewes and Brighton, Haywards Heath, Seaford, and Eastbourne, with a “do not travel” instruction for the affected area for the rest of the day.
Official Reactions and Investigation
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was “deeply concerned” and “grateful to emergency services supporting those impacted.” Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde was informed that one constituent suffered rib injuries. Lewes MP James MacCleary described it as a “clearly a very serious and developing incident.” The general secretary of a transport trade union said that “with so many passengers reportedly involved,” the immediate priority must be their safety and wellbeing.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) deployed a team to the site to begin gathering evidence. The cause of the derailment has not yet been established. Photographs appeared to show a buckled section of track, but it is not yet known whether this contributed to the derailment or was damaged during the incident. Investigators will examine the track condition and establish what caused the train to leave the rails.
