At least 11 people were injured after a passenger train derailed near Lewes in East Sussex, southern England, on Thursday, with three carriages overturning in the incident. Two of the injured passengers suffered serious injuries, while nine others sustained less severe injuries, according to British Transport Police. The incident prompted a major emergency response, with police, firefighters, ambulance crews and other rescue teams rushing to the scene.
The train, operated by Southern Rail, was travelling from London Victoria station towards Eastbourne when it left the tracks outside Lewes, a town known for its historic attractions. The service was carrying around 150 passengers at the time of the derailment. British Transport Police said the incident was reported at around 3:44 pm local time, following which emergency services were deployed to deal with the situation and assist passengers.
Three of the train’s carriages overturned during the derailment, with at least one carriage coming to rest on its side after sliding down an embankment into a lower field. Some passengers were initially trapped inside the train, but emergency responders were able to evacuate everyone safely. Police said all passengers had been removed from the train within approximately three hours of the accident.
Eyewitness accounts described a sudden and frightening sequence of events. Passenger Rob Bradley, who was travelling with his six-year-old daughter, said the train began rocking before the brakes were applied abruptly. The sudden movement sent passengers and their belongings forward. Bradley said the train appeared to skid before coming to a halt, after which he noticed that part of the rear section had been severely damaged, with smoke and dust entering the carriage.
Bradley and his daughter escaped without injuries, but he said he saw passengers from one of the overturned carriages suffering cuts and bleeding. Another passenger reportedly sustained injuries after a window shattered during the derailment. The accounts highlighted the force of the crash and the confusion faced by passengers immediately after the train came to a stop.
A substantial emergency operation followed the derailment. Images and aerial footage from the scene showed firefighters and paramedics attending to passengers in a field beside the railway line. Several ambulances were deployed, while three helicopters were also seen standing by as emergency teams assessed the injured and worked to evacuate passengers from the affected train.
British authorities declared the incident a major emergency and mobilised a significant response. Sussex Police, fire and rescue teams and ambulance services were among those involved in the operation. Some injured passengers were treated at the scene, while others were transported to nearby hospitals for further medical attention. Officials said the priority was to ensure that everyone on board was accounted for and safely removed from the train.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has begun work to establish what caused the derailment. Authorities have not yet confirmed the reason why the train left the tracks, and officials cautioned that the circumstances would need to be examined before any conclusions could be drawn. Police said they were supporting investigators as they sought to determine the sequence of events leading to the accident.
The derailment also caused disruption to rail services in the surrounding area, with emergency operations and the investigation requiring access to the affected railway section. Transport Minister Heidi Alexander said the government was working with the rail industry to assist passengers affected by the incident.
The accident occurred as emergency authorities continued to assess the condition of the train and railway infrastructure. While the injuries reported so far were limited to 11 people and there were no immediate reports of fatalities, the overturning of three carriages and the number of passengers on board made the incident a significant rail emergency. Investigators are expected to examine the train, tracks and other relevant circumstances as part of the inquiry into the derailment.
