Two seriously hurt as passenger train derails

Twenty people have been injured, two seriously, after a train derailed in East Sussex and a major incident was declared.

Network Rail said the 14:24 BST Southern service from London Victoria to Eastbourne came off the tracks close to Lewes railway station, shortly before 16:00 BST.

Photographs from the scene showed people standing on top of overturned carriages, with passengers describing "pandemonium" on board and screaming.

British Transport Police said three carriages derailed, leaving several people trapped. All 150 on board have now been evacuated.

Several rail routes in the area were closed, as emergency teams rushed to the scene and people were advised to avoid the area.

Patients were assessed and treated at the scene, with some sent to local hospitals.

British Transport Police Chief Superintendent Dominique Ioannou said in a press briefing on Thursday night that a number of passengers were initially trapped but were all safely evacuated from the train.

She said while two people sustained serious injuries, a further 18 suffered less serious injuries.

"The train started rocking violently and then I remember clocking eyes with this guy and then there was a lot of screaming," passenger Rachel Heath said.

"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.

"There was a mum who was bleeding from her mouth and a dad and his son who had cuts. It was like a movie."

Rob Bradley, who was on the train with his six-year-old daughter, said it was "pandemonium".

"Our carriage actually jumped upwards and you could tell there was a derailment," he said.

"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."

He said it was "incredibly hot" on the train because the air conditioning stopped working and no doors or windows were open.

South East Coast Ambulance Service said passengers who did not require hospital treatment had been taken to a local community centre.

Outside the centre, Yana Ludwig, who was travelling alone on the train from London to Lewes, said the experience as "completely terrifying".

"There was a banging. Everything just went topsy turvy," the 56-year-old from the United States said.

"It seemed like a really long time but it probably was 10 seconds of that before the carriage actually fell on the side."

She said she was "pretty banged up", adding that everyone in the train was checking on their fellow passengers.

"These moments everybody kind of pulls together," she said.

Network Rail said it would be "inappropriate" to comment as to what caused the derailment.

"I would like to reassure everyone that we are working closely with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, who are on site to establish exactly what has happened," said Lucy McAuliffe from, Network Rail.

BTP assistant chief constable Ian Drummond-Smith said: "We've declared a major incident and a significant emergency service response is ongoing at the scene, but all passengers on the train have now been safely evacuated from the service."

"This remains a complex and ongoing multi-agency response," a spokesperson said.

Fire engines, ambulances and police were stationed on Landport Road, in Lewes, alongside a double decker bus by the community hub waiting for passengers to board.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it sent 10 fire engines, a command support unit, technical rescue teams and other resources to the scene.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS confirmed it was responding to a major incident.

Passenger John May, from St Leonards, said the service had been "packed".

He said: "We were coming up here and suddenly the train just started to shift side-to-side and derailed."

He was in the fourth carriage from the rear of the train, he said.

"We were fortunate that we stayed on the embankment. The last three carriages rolled down into the field," he said.

He added: "There were a lot of older people and children."

Oriana Evans, who lives nearby, said she and her son helped passengers as they were led off the train towards the community centre.

"I walked and chatted to some of them in shock really," the 54-year-old jewellery maker said.

She said they were "really bruised".

Network Rail's McAuliffe said no timetable could be given for when the railway would be able to reopen after the derailment.

She added: "We will provide updates as soon as we have a clear understanding of the recovery work required and when the railway can safely reopen."

Rail operator Southern said major disruption was expected to continue until further notice. It advised passengers to check before they travel.

Tickets were being accepted on alternative Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services with rail replacement buses arranged for travel to Lewes and to Haywards Heath.

The railway operator advised those travelling to Gatwick to allow "at least an extra 150 minutes for your journey" or use an alternative route.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was "deeply concerned".

She wrote on X: "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."

The MP for Eastbourne, Josh Babarinde, said he had heard of one constituent who had suffered rib injuries.

Lewes MP James MacCleary said it was "clearly a very serious and developing incident", in a post on Facebook.

He said he was in touch with the relevant authorities and would provide further updates as soon as he had more information.

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