Two people have sustained serious injuries after a Southern train derailed near Lewes railway station in East Sussex, prompting a major emergency response involving several agencies.
The train, an eight-carriage Southern service travelling from London Victoria to Eastbourne, came off the tracks at around 3:55pm. Three carriages were reported to have overturned in the countryside near the railway line.
Emergency services were called to the scene as passengers remained trapped inside some of the overturned carriages. Authorities estimated that around 150 passengers were on board.
The South East Coast Ambulance Service later confirmed that two people had suffered serious injuries and were taken to major trauma centres.
“Patients have been assessed and treated at the scene, with some transported to local hospitals for further treatment and care,” an ambulance service spokesperson said.
A further 18 passengers suffered less serious injuries, according to British Transport Police. All passengers who had initially been trapped were safely evacuated by around 7:30pm.
The major incident declaration remained in place as emergency services continued to deal with the aftermath.
Witnesses described scenes of confusion and panic after the train suddenly began rocking before leaving the tracks.
Rob Bradley, who was travelling with his six-year-old daughter, Mabel, said passengers felt the train accelerating and rocking before it appeared to jump upwards.
He said the emergency brakes were activated and passengers were thrown forward as the train continued to skid before coming to a stop.
Bradley said he later saw the rear of the train badly damaged, with smoke and dust filling the carriage. He also witnessed passengers with cuts, blood and head injuries.
Another passenger, 56-year-old Yana Ludwig, said she heard loud banging before everything “just went topsy-turvy”. She said she was left injured and believed emergency responders took about 20 minutes to reach the scene.
A large emergency response was deployed, with 10 fire engines, technical rescue teams, officers and other specialist resources attending. Three helicopters were also reported to have been present near the scene.
Passengers were eventually escorted away from the derailed train and taken along a track towards a nearby housing estate.
Southern Rail said the derailment occurred on the line between Lewes and Haywards Heath. Services between Lewes and Brighton, Haywards Heath, Seaford and Eastbourne were suspended, with passengers advised not to travel through the affected area for the remainder of the day.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was deeply concerned by the incident and thanked emergency workers supporting passengers and others affected.
Lewes MP James MacCleary described the derailment as a serious and developing incident.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has deployed a team to the scene to gather evidence and determine what caused the train to leave the tracks.
Images from the scene appeared to show a section of buckled railway track, although investigators have yet to establish whether the damaged track caused the derailment or was itself damaged when the train came off the rails.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
