Lewes, UK, August 13, 2026 — Eighteen people were injured, two of them seriously, after a passenger train derailed near Lewes in East Sussex on Thursday afternoon.
The 14:24 Southern service from London Victoria to Eastbourne came off the tracks close to Lewes railway station shortly before 4 pm. About 150 passengers were on board when three carriages derailed and toppled onto their sides.
British Transport Police declared a major incident. Several passengers were initially trapped inside the overturned carriages but all were safely evacuated. Emergency services, including ambulance, fire and police teams, responded in large numbers. Patients were assessed and treated at the scene, with some taken to local hospitals.
British Transport Police confirmed that two people sustained serious injuries while a further 18 suffered less serious injuries.
Photos shared online after the derailment showed overturned train coaches and emergency teams responding at the scene.
Photographs from the scene showed passengers standing on top of the overturned carriages. Several rail routes in the area were closed, and the public was advised to avoid the area.
