| Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by grahame at 17:09, 13th August 2026 |     |
BBC feed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cly5252xqdvt
Transport Secretary 'deeply concerned' about derailment
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said on social media that she is "deeply concerned" of reports of the derailment, which took place at about 15:55 BST.
She added: "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."
Picure - Laura Arnold / X
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said on social media that she is "deeply concerned" of reports of the derailment, which took place at about 15:55 BST.
She added: "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."
Picure - Laura Arnold / X
British Transport Police statement in full
Here's the full statement from the British Transport Police on the train derailment near Lewes:
"Officers are currently on scene close to Lewes railway station following reports of a derailed train at 3.54pm today (13 August).
"We’re responding alongside paramedics and the fire service and will provide more information as soon as we can."
Here's the full statement from the British Transport Police on the train derailment near Lewes:
"Officers are currently on scene close to Lewes railway station following reports of a derailed train at 3.54pm today (13 August).
"We’re responding alongside paramedics and the fire service and will provide more information as soon as we can."
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by grahame at 17:50, 13th August 2026 | |
Victoria to / via Eastbourne service. Still from the BBC live / helicopter feed.
Edit to add - reported as 1F34, 14:24 from Victoria comprising units 387172 (GBR Livery) and 387304, site not far north of Lewes. More facts to follow (and others welcome to pass them on / quote them). Please do not speculate. Reports suggest as a minimum some injuries - thoughts with those hurt, their friends and family, and staff and others involved.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by JayMac at 18:21, 13th August 2026 | |
It is the three rear vehicles that have toppled. Unclear at this point if any of the front 5 also derailed.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by Mark A at 19:02, 13th August 2026 | |
Given the heatwave conditions, there'll be a lot of people on other trains need looking after too.
Mark
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by broadgage at 21:15, 13th August 2026 | |
Video taken at the scene by passengers, strongly suggests that buckled track was to blame.
source is BBC news.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:20, 13th August 2026 | |
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by grahame at 06:13, 14th August 2026 | |
Video taken at the scene by passengers, strongly suggests that buckled track was to blame.
source is BBC news.
source is BBC news.
Indeed, but we yet we don't know whether that part of the scene shown was cause or effect. We should really await the RAIB. I'm sure, bearing in mind the current hot weather, they will issue an urgent safety alert if appropriate.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by grahame at 06:29, 14th August 2026 | |
Given the heatwave conditions, there'll be a lot of people on other trains need looking after too.
Mark
Mark
I only looked a few hours later, but it may well have been geographically fortunate that the accident (which we are assuming it was) happened on the Haywards Heath to Lewes cutoff. There do not appear on the ("do not use for safety critical decisions") public sites to be any other trains stuck on the line. With the exception of Plumpton and Cooksbridge stations / passengers, all journeys remain possible by rail and "ticket acceptance ..."s which should be automatic were in place by 17:30.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by grahame at 07:01, 14th August 2026 | |
BBC live this morning - sharing a "checkpoint" on where we are
A major incident was declared following a train derailing near Lewes in East Sussex shortly before 16:00 BST yesterday.
Emergency services said about 150 people were on board the train, with two people sustaining serious injuries and a further 18 with less serious injuries. All of the passengers were evacuated from the train.
Photos from the site showed emergency workers around the train on its side in a field next to the tracks, with one passenger saying it "felt like a car crash" and another saying the train derailed from carriage five.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) deployed a team of inspectors to the site.
Emergency services said about 150 people were on board the train, with two people sustaining serious injuries and a further 18 with less serious injuries. All of the passengers were evacuated from the train.
Photos from the site showed emergency workers around the train on its side in a field next to the tracks, with one passenger saying it "felt like a car crash" and another saying the train derailed from carriage five.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) deployed a team of inspectors to the site.
and
Southern Railway has issued advice to passengers hoping to travel in the area today.
Trains are unable to run between Lewes and Haywards Heath, so those travelling to or from Cooksbridge, Plumpton, Hastings or Ore have been told their journey is likely to take longer than usual.
Rail replacement buses are running between Haywards Heath and Lewes, calling at Cooksbridge and Plumpton, and those travelling in the area are being told to allow at least an extra 60 minutes of journey time for their trip.
People travelling towards Eastbourne or Hastings today will also need to change trains at Brighton, with extra carriages being added on services between Brighton and Hastings, and Brighton and Seaford.
Tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on Southern services between Brighton and London Victoria, Thameslink services between Brighton and London Bridge, Gatwick Express services between Brighton and London Victoria, on the London Underground between London terminals, and on Southeastern services between Hastings and London terminals.
Rail tickets will also be accepted on Brighton and Hove Buses’ 28, 29, 29B, and 29X routes, which run between Brighton and Eastbourne, and Brighton and Tunbridge Wells in Kent.
Trains are unable to run between Lewes and Haywards Heath, so those travelling to or from Cooksbridge, Plumpton, Hastings or Ore have been told their journey is likely to take longer than usual.
Rail replacement buses are running between Haywards Heath and Lewes, calling at Cooksbridge and Plumpton, and those travelling in the area are being told to allow at least an extra 60 minutes of journey time for their trip.
People travelling towards Eastbourne or Hastings today will also need to change trains at Brighton, with extra carriages being added on services between Brighton and Hastings, and Brighton and Seaford.
Tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on Southern services between Brighton and London Victoria, Thameslink services between Brighton and London Bridge, Gatwick Express services between Brighton and London Victoria, on the London Underground between London terminals, and on Southeastern services between Hastings and London terminals.
Rail tickets will also be accepted on Brighton and Hove Buses’ 28, 29, 29B, and 29X routes, which run between Brighton and Eastbourne, and Brighton and Tunbridge Wells in Kent.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by GBM at 09:11, 14th August 2026 | |
Superb drone footage taken by Eddie Mitchell on another forum.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by ChrisB at 13:40, 14th August 2026 | |
He was only allowed around 60 seconds to grab that footage before the Police enforced a no-fly zone.
| Re: Derailment, Lewes, 13 Aug 2026 Posted by grahame at 21:30, 14th August 2026 | |
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/polegate-20260814/
A safety inspection of the track between Lewes and Eastbourne means that all lines are closed.
As a result, trains are unable to operate between these stations.
This is expected until the end of the day.
Customer advice:
No trains can run between Lewes and Eastbourne until further notice. You will need to use an alternative route to reach your destination.
You should allow at least an additional 60 minutes to complete your journey today.
Please talk to station staff, look at the information boards or check your journey planner for the most recent information.
How are Southern changing their service?
While this disruption is ongoing, Southern will be making the following changes to services:
Trains that normally run between Ore and Brighton will now run between Ore and Eastbourne.
Trains that normally run between Eastbourne and Brighton will now terminate at Polegate and restart back to Brighton.
As a result, trains are unable to operate between these stations.
This is expected until the end of the day.
Customer advice:
No trains can run between Lewes and Eastbourne until further notice. You will need to use an alternative route to reach your destination.
You should allow at least an additional 60 minutes to complete your journey today.
Please talk to station staff, look at the information boards or check your journey planner for the most recent information.
How are Southern changing their service?
While this disruption is ongoing, Southern will be making the following changes to services:
Trains that normally run between Ore and Brighton will now run between Ore and Eastbourne.
Trains that normally run between Eastbourne and Brighton will now terminate at Polegate and restart back to Brighton.
