A passenger on a train that derailed in East Sussex said it was “absolutely terrifying” and she thought she “was going to die”.
Rachel Heath said: “I just remember thinking to myself that I was going to die. There was about two seconds where I genuinely thought this was it.”
She added: “It’s just absolutely terrifying.”
An MP has said that concerns were raised over the “bumpier” train tracks just one week before the incident, which injuring 20 people.
James MacCleary, the Lewes MP, said that there had been a meeting with Greater Thameslink railway to discuss the track, which was “possibly a result of the incredibly hot weather”.
An investigation is now underway after the incident, which left two people with serious injuries, and a further 18 people taken to hospital.
The probe will establish the “root cause” of the incident, which saw three carriageways leave the railway between Lewes and Haywards Heath.
National Rail have warned of significant disruption to the line on Friday, with all trains cancelled between the two stations and rail replacement buses in place.
Have you witnessed the crash or have pictures from the scene? Email bryony.gooch.ind@independent.co.uk
Read MoreMajor travel disruption after Lewes train derailment as services cancelled
Key Points
- Major incident declared after three carriages derailed
- MP says concerns had been raised over 'bumpier' train tracks
- National Rail warn that disruption is expected to continue on Friday
- 20 people were hospitalised with a 'mix of injuries of varying severity'
- Gatwick travellers warned to add at least 150 minutes to journey
Two seriously injured are not in a life-threatening condition
14:46 , Holly EvansTwo passengers seriously injured when a Southern Rail train derailed at East Sussex are not deemed to be in a life-threatening condition, police have said.
A spokesperson for BTP said: “They both remain in hospital and the 18 people who were also treated at hospital for less serious injuries have been discharged.”
Assistant Chief Constable Ian Drummond-Smith added: “Our thoughts remain firmly with those who were injured and their loved ones. On behalf of BTP, I wish them a full and speedy recovery.”
Train boss says railway is safe in hot weather after ‘rare’ derailment
14:10 , Holly EvansA train boss has said that the railway is safe in hot weather after a Southern Rail service derailed in East Sussex and 20 people went to hospital.
John Whitehurst, chief executive of Greater Thameslink Railway, said derailments are “incredibly rare”, adding that what happened “was a very serious incident and I’m deeply saddened by it”.
A major incident was declared by British Transport Police (BTP) after three carriages derailed on their side, trapping passengers on board the Southern train near Lewes on Thursday afternoon.
Read the full article here:
Train boss says railway is safe in hot weather after ‘rare’ derailment
Rail Accident Investigations Branch to give update 'next week'
13:50 , Holly EvansThe Rail Accident Investigations Branch (RAIB) says it will provide a further update "next week once we know more".
Pictures from the scene show a large number of inspectors and emergency workers, who will be examining the accident site and collecting CCTV, train data and signalling data.
A spokesperson added the RAIB "will conduct a full, independent safety investigation into the accident."
Local residents set up community centre to help casualties
13:25 , Holly EvansFire engines, ambulances and police had been stationed along Landport Road in Lewes, where a community centre was also hosting casualties from the train.
On Thursday residents could be seen walking down to the community hub with chairs for passengers to sit on.
Local resident Oriana Evans said she and her son helped casualties who were led off the train towards the community centre along the street, showing them where to go, including some passengers who were on holiday.
“I walked and chatted to some of them in shock really,” the 54-year-old jewellery maker said.
Lewes council encouraging travellers to use other routes
13:00 , Holly EvansLewes District Council is encouraging people to plan ahead and use other routes such as via Brighton as nearby Eastbourne hosts its annual air show over the weekend.
Deputy leader of the authority, Christine Robinson, also paid tribute to the “outstanding” professionalism of emergency services and passengers, as well as local residents who sought to help.
“Their compassion and willingness to step forward in a moment of crisis was truly heartening, and I thank every one of them.”
Watch: Passengers climb out of overturned carriage
12:35 , Holly EvansOne woman says passengers were left with mud on their face during incident
12:10 , Holly EvansAnother passenger has said it is a “miracle” that nobody suffered life-threatening injuries, and that she had been left feeling “quite shaken” by the experience.
Tracy McGregor said: "It was like this metal tube carving through the earth, honestly, and it was just picking up dirt from the field," she says.
"So it ended up, when it did stop, there was this almighty cloud of mud and earth and everyone had mud on their faces.
"So it was quite a scene. It was really quite dramatic.”
What can you do if your train is disrupted?
11:50 , Holly EvansPassengers travelling towards Eastbourne or Hastings will need to change trains at Brighton to continue their journey.
Passengers can also travel on the following services at no additional cost:
- Southern services between Brighton and London Victoria
- Thameslink services between Brighton and London Bridge
- Gatwick Express services between Brighton and London Victoria
- London Underground between all London terminals
- Southeastern services between Hastings and London terminals
Plus on Brighton and Hove bus services on the following routes:
- 28 – Brighton (St Peter’s Church), Moulsecoomb (Brighton University), Falmer, Lewes (Post Office / Law Courts), Polegate, and Eastbourne
- 29 / 29B / 29X – Brighton (St Peter’s Church), Moulsecoomb (Brighton University), Falmer, Lewes (Post Office / Law Courts), Uckfield, Crowborough, Eridge, and Tunbridge Wells
In pictures: Rail investigators examine tracks
11:32 , Holly Evans
Passenger on derailed train thought she was 'going to die'
10:43 , Holly EvansA passenger on a train that derailed in East Sussex said it was “absolutely terrifying” and she thought she “was going to die”.
Rachel Heath said: “I just remember thinking to myself that I was going to die. There was about two seconds where I genuinely thought this was it, and so I went on my phone, immediately called my partner as the train was still flipping, and was just kind of in my mind as I made that call – calling to say goodbye.
“It’s just absolutely terrifying. Nothing like I’ve ever experienced, and nothing like you would ever expect to experience.”
Railway network chief says incidents are 'incredibly rare'
10:10 , Holly EvansThe chief executive of Greater Thameslink Railway said the railway is safe in hot weather and derailments are “incredibly rare”.
John Whitehurst told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that the train derailment in East Sussex “was a very serious incident and I’m deeply saddened by it”.
He added: “A full investigation is now underway with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, and at this stage we’re working with them to ensure we can establish the cause but also support their investigation fully.
“Obviously, the railway through that area is closed, and we have specialist teams on site assessing the train and the infrastructure. I’m really sorry for the disruption that’s caused.”
Asked if the railway was safe in hot weather, Mr Whitehurst said: “The railway is safe. These types of incidents are incredibly rare.
“We have control processes in place that involve inspection, temporary speed restrictions, or even suspending services if that’s required.”
Investigators will assess 'effects of heat' on train tracks
09:44 , Holly EvansThe former chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority said investigators should be able to see “what the track looked like as the train arrived”.
Richard Bowker told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that the Rail Accident Investigation Branch will “be looking at things like the condition of the track”.
He added: “We’ve seen images of damaged track – was that caused by the derailment, or did it cause it, or a bit of both? They’ll look at the effects of heat.
“The train itself I would expect to be fitted with forward-facing CCTV cameras, so it will be possible to see, I would suspect, what the track looked like as the train arrived.
“They will be able to download data from the train. It has like a black box. They’ll know what speed it was going. They will know if there were any braking applications.”
MP says concerns had been raised over 'bumpier' train tracks
09:13 , Holly EvansThe Lewes MP, James MacCleary, has said that concerns had recently been raised over the conditions of the railway tracks after it had been noticed that the route was “bumpier”.
He told Times Radio: “I had a meeting literally last week with [Greater Thameslink Railway], who are the parent company of Southern Rail, and we did discuss the track and the fact that it has been a bit bumpier in recent months, which is possibly a result of the incredibly hot weather we’ve had recently.”
It has been reported that images from the crash site indicate the track had buckled due to the heat. On Thursday, a temperature of 38.1C was recorded at Kew Gardens, making it officially the hottest day of the year.
This week’s high temperature also marks the fifth heatwave this summer, which has seen transport infrastructure struggling to cope across England and Wales.
'Lot of screaming' as train derailed, says passenger
08:51 , Holly EvansPassengers onboard the train have described chaotic scenes, with one saying the incident felt “like a movie”.
Rachel Heath, from London, told the BBC: "The train started rocking violently and then I remember clocking eyes with this guy and then there was a lot of screaming.
"It felt like we flew in the air and the carriage landed on its side and it slid.
"I felt like it was going to completely flip over.”
National Rail warn that disruption is expected to continue on Friday
08:20 , Holly EvansNational Rail have warned that travel disruption is expected to continue until further notice as a result of the rail derailment.
Trains are unable to run between Lewes and Haywards Heath, with the routes affected between Ore/Eastbourne/Seaford and Brighton, as well as to London Victoria.
Rail replacement buses are running between Lewes and Haywards Heath and will be calling at Cooksbridge and Plumpton.
A spokesperson said: “There are fewer travel options than normal for some customers. To help keep you moving, Southern have added extra carriages to services between Brighton and Hastings and Brighton and Seaford wherever possible, providing more space on board for customers travelling along the route.
“If you're travelling towards Eastbourne or Hastings, you'll need to change trains at Brighton to continue your journey.”
🎟️#Lewes - To assist you with your journey, you can travel on the following services at no additional cost:
— National Rail (@nationalrailenq) August 14, 2026
◾️Southern services between Brighton and London Victoria
◾️Thameslink services between Brighton and London Bridge
◾️Gatwick Express services between Brighton and London…
Recap: Aerial footage shows scores of emergency responders at scene of Lewes train derailment
07:26 , Joe MiddletonRecap: What is rail buckling and is that what happened in east Sussex?
07:00 , Bryony GoochTracks can “buckle” when the steel rails expand and start to curve in the heat.
Rails in direct sunlight can be up to 20C hotter than the air temperature, according to Network Rail.
While most of the network can operate when track temperatures reach up to 46C, roughly equivalent to an air temperature of around 30C, rails have been recorded at temperatures as high as 51C.
It remains unclear whether the bends in the track are from buckling or from where the train was derailed for other reasons. RAIB is currently investigating the matter.
Pictured: Air ambulance deployed over derailment on Thursday
06:00 , Bryony Gooch
Recap: Gatwick travellers warned to add at least 150 minutes to journey
05:00 , Bryony GoochTravellers hoping to reach Gatwick Airport have been advised to add at least an extra 150 minutes to their journey to ensure they meet flight connections.
Watch: Scene of the Lewes train derailment that injured over 18 passengers
04:00 , Bryony GoochWatch: Aerial footage shows scores of emergency responders at scene of Lewes train derailment
03:00 , Bryony GoochIn pictures: emergency services remain at the scene where three carriages were derailed
02:00 , Bryony Gooch
Recap: Network Rail route director 'shocked and saddened' by derailment
01:00 , Bryony GoochLucy McAuliffe, Network Rail route director for Sussex, said she was “shocked and saddened” by the derailment near Lewes.
She told a press conference: “The railway between Haywards Heath and Lewes is closed and is likely to remain closed as the emergency response continues and specialist teams carry out the complex task of assessing the damage to the train and the infrastructure.
“I understand that people will have lots of questions about what has happened today.
“I would like to reassure everyone that we are working closely the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, who are on site to establish exactly what has happened.
“At the moment, it would be inappropriate to comment as to the cause of this incident but more information would be provided as soon as we can.”
Mapped: Train derailment near Lewes, East Sussex
Friday 14 August 2026 00:00 , Bryony GoochMajor disruption is expected to continue until further notice
Thursday 13 August 2026 23:00 , Bryony GoochThe major disruption on the railway lines is expected to continue until further notice as emergency services and Network Rail engineers work on the derailment in east Sussex.
Disruption is expected to go on into Friday.
No timeline given for when railway can safely reopen
Thursday 13 August 2026 22:57 , Bryony GoochNo timetable can be given for when the railway will be able to “safely reopen” after the derailment near Lewes, Network Rail has said.
Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail route director for Sussex, told a press conference: “This is an evolving and complex situation.
“We will provide updates as soon as we have a clear understanding of the recovery work required and when the railway can safely reopen.”
She urged passengers to check before they travel.
She added: “I can only apologise to everyone who has been impacted by this incident but I also must thank the local response teams and community for everything they have done to support the response to this situation.”
Two seriously injured as train derails and carriages topple sideways in ‘terrifying’ experience
Thursday 13 August 2026 22:30 , Bryony Gooch
Passengers injured as train derails and carriages topple sideways
In pictures: Emergency services give update on derailment
Thursday 13 August 2026 22:10 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Passenger describes moment train derailed near Lewes
Thursday 13 August 2026 22:06 , Bryony GoochPress conference finished
Thursday 13 August 2026 21:48 , Bryony GoochLeaders from the emergency services have finished their press conference.
20 people were hospitalised with a 'mix of injuries of varying severity'
Thursday 13 August 2026 21:42 , Bryony GoochMichael Bradfield, the Deputy Chief Paramedic Officer at the South East Coast Ambulance Service, said 20 people ended up in hospital following the derailment with a “mix of injuries of varyin severity”.
“We conveyed 18 people. As my colleague said, there were 20 people who went to hospital. We believe there were two who have made their own way and self-presented at hospital.
“There are a range of injuries, two of which were categorized as severe and were conveyed to a major trauma center. The remaining are a mix of injuries of varying severity.”
Tracks between Lewes and Hayward Heath to remain closed until further notice says Network Rail boss
Thursday 13 August 2026 21:39 , Bryony GoochLucy McAuliffe, the route director for Network Rail for Sussex, has said the railway between Lewes and Hayward Heath will remain closed until further notice.
“The railway between Lewes and Hayward Heath is closed and is likely to remain closed whilst the emergency response continues, and specialist teams carry out the complex task of assessing the damage to the train and the infrastructure.”
Local community thanked for helping in emergency
Thursday 13 August 2026 21:37 , Bryony GoochBritish Transport Police Superintendent Dominique Ioannou has thanked officers and the local community for help
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident.
“I'd also like to recognize our officers and emergency service colleagues who have worked incredibly hard this evening in particularly challenging temperatures.
“I'd also like to thank the local community, shopkeepers, and the community center, whose kindness in supporting the emergency services response and passengers has been felt incredibly strongly.”
20 people have been injured, police say
Thursday 13 August 2026 21:36 , Bryony GoochBritish Transport Police Superintendent Dominique Ioannou has said two people were seriously injured and a further 18 sustained less serious wounds.
“At this stage, we know that two people have sustained serious injuries, and a further 18 have suffered less serious injuries.
“Those injured were assessed and treated at the scene, with some taken to local hospitals for further treatment.”
