Lewes Train Derailment: Carriages Moved Amid Track Defect Probe
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Train derailment carriages moved amid track probe
Image source: Eddie Mitchell
Image caption: Heavy lifting equipment has been brought in to clear the site
By Danny Pike (BBC Radio Sussex) and Tanya Gupta (South East) | Published 17 minutes ago
Work has begun on removing the carriages of the train that derailed near Lewes with 150 people on board, leaving thirty people injured, two seriously.
A preliminary report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) found a defect in the track where the train came off the rails last Thursday at 2:24 BST. Network Rail and Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates Southern services, have promised to consider recommendations from the investigation and implement them.
Investigators are examining whether hot weather may have contributed to the derailment, as well as how the track was inspected and maintained.
Image source: Eddie Mitchell
Image caption: Video posted online showed carriages being transported through Lewes station overnight
Passengers on the route shared concerns about the unstable nature of the line before the accident. Rob Bradley from Eastbourne described the train as "jostly" and "bumpy", stating he never expected a derailment due to these conditions.
Lewes MP James MacCleary expressed similar worries, noting that people often struggle with their laptops and coffee on the bumpy stretch of track. He emphasized the concern that issues had been reported previously but still led to a derailment.
Image source: Eddie Mitchell
Image caption: The recovery operation began Thursday after the train came to rest on its side, trapping passengers inside.
Passenger John May recounted people being trapped in the carriages and having to wait in hot conditions while firefighters used ladders to rescue them.
The ongoing RAIB investigation will delve into the cause of the derailment, track and embankment conditions, weather, the train itself, and the emergency response.
Network Rail’s Sussex route director Lucy McAuliffe and GTR chief executive John Whitehurst affirmed that Britain’s railways are among the safest globally, emphasizing the importance of understanding the incident and learning from it.
