Twenty people were hospitalized Thursday when a Southern Rail train derailed near Lewes station in East Sussex, with two sustaining severe injuries. The train, carrying approximately 150 passengers, came off the tracks shortly before 4 p.m. The rear three carriages overturned, leaving about 40 passengers trapped.
Passengers described a sudden, violent jolt that sent people and objects airborne before the train tilted onto its side. Teddy Birkbeck, 18, who was traveling home from a holiday, recounted the experience: "It felt like there was something wrong from the start... Then it was all smooth going - until we got near Lewes." He described seeing "people and gadgets sailing through the air" and feeling as if they were "in a car that was drifting after the brakes had been slammed on." Another passenger, Charlie Hobden, likened the experience inside the carriage to being "in a washing machine."
Images from the scene revealed a section of track that appeared severely buckled behind the derailed carriages. Transport experts have raised the possibility that the extreme heat, which saw temperatures reach 38.1C (100.6F) on Thursday, may have played a role. 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 mentioned discussing track conditions with the parent company of Southern Rail, noting that the track had been "a bit bumpier in recent months, which is possibly a result of the incredibly hot weather."
Transport expert Christian Wolmar suggested that prolonged heat and drought could have caused the ground beneath the tracks to dry out and crack, leading to the embankment's collapse and subsequent rail buckling. He noted that fissures in the ground were visible in other areas due to the dry conditions.
Emergency services, including three air ambulances and over 20 other vehicles, responded rapidly to the incident. Passengers who did not require hospitalization were taken to a local community center. South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed that 20 individuals were injured, with two transported to a major trauma center.
Network Rail has launched an investigation into the cause of the derailment, and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch has deployed investigators to the scene. Southern Railway reported that all lines through Lewes were closed, causing significant disruption expected to last until 10 p.m. The incident occurred as the train, traveling from London Victoria to Eastbourne, passed through the area. Some passengers reported noticing a warning sign about track conditions prior to the derailment.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed concern about the incident and gratitude to the emergency services. Passengers described the scene as chaotic, with some noting that while initial delays were attributed to the heat, the derailment itself remains under investigation.