Two seriously injured after passenger train derails near Lewes in East Sussex
Additional nine passengers sustain less serious injuries and major disruption to services reported Two people have been seriously injured after a passenger train derailed between Haywards Heath and Lewes in East Sussex on Thursday. The South East Coast ambulance service said two people were taken to major trauma centres with severe injuries. Continue reading...
Two passengers sustained severe injuries after a passenger train derailed near Lewes in East Sussex on Thursday. The incident occurred between Haywards Heath and Lewes, leaving the train's passengers stranded on top of toppled carriages or seeking shelter in the nearby heathland.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, with some patients receiving treatment on the spot before being transported to nearby hospitals. British Transport Police declared a major incident and a significant emergency response, evacuating all passengers from the Southern service. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has launched an inquiry to determine the cause of the derailment.
John Whitehurst, CEO of Greater Thameslink Railway, reassured the public that the railway system is safe and emphasized that such incidents are extremely rare. He stated that the company has control processes in place, including inspections and temporary speed restrictions, to prevent such occurrences.
Passenger Rob Bradley and his six-year-old daughter Mabel were among those who escaped the worst of the crash, thanks to sitting in the last upright carriage. They described feeling the train speed up, rock, and then abruptly leap upwards, indicating a derailment.
Several rail routes were closed following the incident, and emergency services advised the public to avoid the area. Network Rail and Southern confirmed the derailment of the 14.24 Southern passenger service from Victoria to Eastbourne and suspended trains in the affected area. The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, expressed deep concern over the reports of the derailment, and the MP for Lewes, James MacCleary, was in contact with authorities to provide updates on the developing situation.
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