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Eleven hurt as passenger train derails

Tanya Gupta,
Craig Buchanand
Daniel Sexton,South East
Eddie Mitchell Three train carriages that have derailed. Several emergency workers are congregating by the side of the railway.Eddie Mitchell
Emergency services have asked people to avoid the area

Eleven people have been injured, two seriously, after a train derailed in East Sussex and a major incident was declared.

Network Rail said the 14:24 BST Southern service from London Victoria to Eastbourne came off the tracks close to Lewes railway station, shortly before 16:00 BST.

Photographs from the scene showed people standing on top of overturned carriages. A passenger who was in the fourth carriage said it derailed from carriage five.

British Transport Police said three carriages derailed, leaving several people trapped. All 150 on board have now been evacuated.

Several rail routes in the area were closed, as emergency teams rushed to the scene and people were advised to avoid the area.

Patients were assessed and treated at the scene, with some sent to local hospitals.

BTP assistant chief constable Ian Drummond-Smith said: "We've declared a major incident and a significant emergency service response is ongoing at the scene, but all passengers on the train have now been safely evacuated from the service."

He said BTP was responding alongside Sussex Police and was also supporting the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to establish exactly what has happened.

Eddie Mitchell An aerial photograph shows a passenger train with multiple derailed carriages near Lewes in East Sussex. Carriages are off the tracks, with some lying on their side beside the railway. Emergency service vehicles and dozens of responders can be seen on the railway line and in a nearby field surrounded by trees and open countryside.Eddie Mitchell
The train had 150 people on board, South East Coast Ambulance Service said

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it sent 10 fire engines, a command support unit, technical rescue teams and other resources to the scene.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS confirmed it was responding to a major incident.

'Smoke and dust pouring in'

Rob Bradley, who was on the train with his six-year-old daughter, said it was "pandemonium".

"Our carriage actually jumped upwards and you could tell there was a derailment," he said.

"The emergency brakes then went on the train and everything got thrown forward.

"The train kind of skidded for quite a while before it stopped.

"Only then, when we turned around, did we see the whole back of the train was open and smoke and dust were pouring into the carriage."

He said it was "incredibly hot" on the train because the air conditioning stopped working and no doors or windows were open.

He added that he heard police had counted 110 passengers across four carriages, although he said it was unclear how many people were on the rest of the service, which he described as busy.

Watch: 'My instinct was to grab my six-year-old daughter', says passenger

Another passenger, John May, from St Leonards, said the service had been "packed".

He said: "We were coming up here and suddenly the train just started to shift side-to-side and derailed."

He was in the fourth carriage from the rear of the train, he said.

"We were fortunate that we stayed on the embankment. The last three carriages rolled down into the field," he said.

He added: "There were a lot of older people and children."

A man in a black collared shirt is standing outside a train station. He has greying hair. There are cars parked outside the station.
John May, from St Leonards, was on the train when it derailed near Lewes

Network Rail said the derailment had closed all lines running through the station, with major disruption expected until 22:00.

A spokesperson said: "Trains are currently unable to run through the area to allow the emergency services to attend the incident."

Rob Bradley Emergency responders and rail workers stand beside a derailed train carriage resting on its side. Ladders have been placed against the carriage as crews work on the railway line surrounded by open countryside.Rob Bradley
Carriages came off the tracks and ended up on their sides

Rail operator Southern has advised passengers not to travel between Brighton, Lewes, Haywards Heath, Seaford and Eastbourne for the rest of the day.

Tickets are being accepted on alternative Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services with rail replacement buses arranged for travel to Lewes and to Haywards Heath.

The railway operator advised those travelling to Gatwick to allow "at least an extra 150 minutes for your journey" or use an alternative route.

Rob Bradley Emergency service vehicles, police officers and rail staff gather beside a railway embankment following a train derailment. People can be seen on and around the railway line above, while responders work in a grassy field below.Rob Bradley
Emergency services are at the scene

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said on X: "Grateful to emergency services who are on the scene supporting those impacted.

"We are working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to assist passengers."

The MP for Eastbourne, Josh Babarinde, said he had heard of one constituent who had suffered rib injuries.

Lewes MP James MacCleary said it was "clearly a very serious and developing incident", in a post on Facebook.

He said he was in touch with the relevant authorities and would provide further updates as soon as he had more information.

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