A Southern Rail train derailed near Lewes, East Sussex, on Thursday afternoon, resulting in 20 passengers being hospitalized, two with severe injuries. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. when the train, carrying approximately 150 people, experienced a "violent jolt" causing the rear three carriages to overturn onto their sides.
Passengers reported being thrown from their seats and described a chaotic scene as people and objects flew through the air before the carriages came to rest. One passenger, 18-year-old Teddy Birkbeck, who was traveling from Gatwick Airport, recounted feeling the train lean excessively before crashing. "It felt like we were in a car that was drifting after the brakes had been slammed on," Birkbeck told the Daily Mail. He added that after a period of silence, "people started screaming" and some sustained injuries.
Images from the scene revealed a section of track that appeared severely buckled behind the derailed carriages. Transport experts have suggested that the extreme heat, which led to the hottest day of the year in the UK on Thursday with temperatures reaching 38.1C (100.6F), may have contributed to the incident by causing the rails to buckle or the ground beneath to collapse.
James MacCleary, the Member of Parliament for Lewes, stated that concerns had previously been raised about the condition of local tracks due to sustained heatwaves. He noted that the track had felt "bumpier" in recent months, potentially as a result of the hot weather.
Emergency services, including multiple air ambulances and fire engines, responded rapidly to the scene. Around 150 people were on board, and 20 required hospital treatment. Those not needing immediate medical care were taken to a local community center. Passengers described the emergency responders as "brilliant" for their efforts in calming the situation and assisting with evacuations.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the derailment. Network Rail confirmed its involvement in the investigation, while Southern Railway warned of significant disruption to services through Lewes, expected to last until at least 10 p.m. Thursday.