A major incident has been declared after a passenger train derailed near Lewes in East Sussex, leaving at least 11 people injured and three carriages overturned on their sides. All passengers have now been safely evacuated from the train.
What happened
The incident involved a Southern Railway train travelling from London Victoria to Eastbourne. British Transport Police said officers were called following reports at around 3.44pm on Thursday, and that three carriages derailed onto their side between Haywards Heath and Lewes, close to Lewes railway station. A number of people were initially trapped before being brought to safety.
Casualties and evacuation
South East Coast Ambulance Service said approximately 150 people were on board at the time. Two patients sustained serious injuries and a further nine were less seriously hurt. Patients were assessed and treated at the scene, with some transported to local hospitals, while passengers who did not need hospital treatment were taken to a nearby community centre and supported by partner agencies.
Emergency response
A major incident was declared by British Transport Police, with a significant multi-agency response ongoing. East Sussex Fire and Rescue said it had 10 fire engines, a command support unit, technical rescue units and officers at the scene helping reach passengers. Assistant Chief Constable Ian Drummond-Smith said all passengers had been safely evacuated and that the force was supporting the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to establish exactly what happened. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was “deeply concerned”.
Travel disruption
National Rail warned of major disruption, with no trains able to run through Lewes until further notice. Southern Rail advised passengers not to travel on affected routes, with cancellations between Brighton, Lewes and Eastbourne or Seaford and significant delays expected to continue through the evening. Travellers heading to Gatwick Airport were told to allow at least an extra 150 minutes for their journey.
Investigation
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has deployed a team to Lewes to begin gathering evidence into how the train came off the track. A full investigation will examine the cause of the derailment, which one passenger described as “completely terrifying” as carriages tipped over.
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Source: The Independent and Sky News, reporting on the British Transport Police major incident. Read the original coverage here.
Source: Original report. Rewrite for Your News Website.
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