Around 15:54 on August 13th, a Southern service derailed near Lewes in East Sussex. Three cars of the train, which were scheduled to operate to Eastbourne from London Victoria where found to be “lying on their side” beside the line.
Twenty people were found to be injured, including two who were severely injured.
Before the Derailment
Shortly after 15:54 that day, the 14:22 service operating from London Victoria to Eastbourne had derailed between Cooksbridge and Lewes in East Sussex just north of the Lewes Tunnel.
Southern Railway (@SouthernRailUK) had posted initially at 15:37 to X, stating a problem was “currently under investigation” in the Lewes area and that “all lines are at a stand” in the Lewes area.
They then followed up saying if people were “currently on-board a train” which has been standing outside of a station to remain on the train and do not attempt to deboard.
The rear three carriages of the eight carriage formation had turned onto their side, leaving them sitting on their side derailed from the track. The train was carrying about 150 passengers with 110 being situated in the rear four carriages of the train.
South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAS) sent more than twenty ambulances with three air ambulances to attend the scene. East Sussex Fire & Rescue service (ESFRS) had deployed ten fire engines and a command support unit to also attend. It then had been reported that two people sustained serious injuries, where eighteen others sustained non-critical injuries.
Southern Rail posted at 16:32 to X, confirming that a train had derailed between “Haywards Heath and Lewes”. Tweets kept coming from Southern where eventually commuters were advised that they “DO NOT TRAVEL” between Brighton, Lewes & Haywards Heath or Seaford and Eastbourne for the remainder of the day; and that alterations had been arranged.
ITV Meridian, in the hours after the derailment, claimed the cause was suspected to be a “track defect” but no cause has officially been confirmed. It was then reported that the hot weather temperature combined with the design of the rail metal not being “adequately prepared to withstand high temperatures” had contributed to the incident. A safety inspection since then has been carried out on the track.
The Aftermath
The British Transport Police had stated the disruption within the Lewes Area until around 22:00 where all remaining trains set to operate between Lewes, Brighton, Eastbourne, Haywards Heath and Seaford had been cancelled. Southern Rail had issued a “do not travel” warning for the area valid until the end of the day.
It later stated the disruption was expected to continue “until further notice”, replacement bus services were put in place between Lewes and Haywards Heath to account for the incident.
The Rail Accident Investigation branch (RAIB) had also deployed a team of inspectors to the scene with the assistance of the British Transport Police. RAIB tweeted that a full investigation will be carried out into the accident, where a formal announcement would be made in the coming week,
