Eleven Injured After Passenger Train Derails in Southern England

Eleven people were injured when a passenger train derailed near Lewes railway station in East Sussex on Thursday, prompting a major emergency response and the evacuation of everyone on board.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service said two people suffered serious injuries, while nine others sustained less serious injuries. Some patients were taken to nearby hospitals, and passengers who did not require hospital treatment were moved to a local community centre.

The Southern Rail service was travelling from London Victoria to Eastbourne when at least three carriages left the tracks and overturned at about 3:44pm local time. Approximately 150 passengers were reported to have been aboard.

British Transport Police declared a major incident as police officers, firefighters, paramedics and air ambulances were sent to the scene. Some passengers were initially trapped, but authorities later confirmed that everyone had been accounted for and safely evacuated within roughly three hours.

Emergency crews treated passengers in a field beside the railway, while the damaged carriages remained off the tracks. Officials asked the public to avoid the area as the response continued and rail services were disrupted.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch deployed inspectors to collect evidence and establish how the derailment occurred. No cause had been announced at the time of publication, and authorities urged the public not to speculate while the investigation continues.

UK Transport Minister Heidi Alexander said the government was working with the rail industry to support those affected. Passengers planning journeys through the area were advised to check the latest information from their train operator before travelling.