LEWES, ENGLAND — A commuter train traveling from London Victoria to Eastbourne derailed near Lewes in East Sussex on Thursday afternoon, leaving two passengers with serious injuries and 18 others with minor injuries, according to emergency officials .
The incident occurred at approximately 15:54 BST, about one mile north of Lewes railway station, when the 14:24 Southern Rail service came off the tracks in the area between Haywards Heath and Lewes . British Transport Police declared a major incident as emergency services rushed to the scene, with three carriages overturning and coming to rest on their side at the bottom of a small embankment .
All 150 passengers aboard the train have been safely evacuated, authorities confirmed . South East Coast Ambulance Service dispatched multiple resources to the scene, including specialist teams, while East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service deployed ten fire engines, technical rescue units, and a command support vehicle . Those injured were treated at the scene, with several transported to local hospitals for further care. Passengers not requiring hospital treatment were taken to a nearby community centre for support .
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos and terror as the carriages tipped over. Rob Bradley, who was traveling with his six-year-old daughter Mabel, recounted the moment of impact to the BBC. “Our carriage actually jumped upwards and you could tell there was a derailment. The emergency brakes then went on the train and everything got thrown forward. The train kind of skidded for quite a while before it stopped. Only then, when we turned around, did we see the whole back of the train was open and smoke and dust were pouring into the carriage” .
Yana Ludwig, a 56-year-old passenger from the United States, described the experience as “completely terrifying.” “There was a banging. Everything just went topsy turvy. It seemed like a really long time but it probably was 10 seconds of that before the carriage actually fell on the side,” she told reporters. She added that passengers quickly began checking on one another, saying, “these moments everybody kind of pulls together” .
Photographs circulating online showed passengers standing atop overturned carriages as they awaited rescue, while aerial footage revealed buckled track near the derailment site . The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has deployed a team of inspectors to the scene to begin gathering evidence and determine the cause of the derailment .
Network Rail confirmed that all lines running through Lewes station were closed, with major disruption expected to continue until the end of the day . Southern Rail strongly advised passengers not to travel between Brighton, Lewes, Haywards Heath, Seaford, and Eastbourne for the remainder of the day, with rail replacement buses arranged and tickets being accepted on alternative services . Passengers traveling to Gatwick Airport were advised to allow at least an extra 150 minutes for their journey .
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed deep concern over the incident, stating on social media: “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” .
British Transport Police Chief Superintendent Dominique Ioannou confirmed the casualty figures, noting that two individuals sustained serious injuries while a further 18 suffered less serious injuries . She paid tribute to emergency workers who responded in challenging conditions and thanked the local community for their support. Assistant Chief Constable Ian Drummond-Smith added: “Our thoughts are of course with everyone affected, and I’d like to reassure the public that we’re supporting the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to establish exactly what’s happened” .
