A passenger train derailed near Lewes in East Sussex, southern England, on August 13, 2026, leaving 11 people injured. According to emergency services, two sustained serious injuries while nine others suffered less serious injuries. Around 150 people were travelling on the Southern service from London Victoria to Eastbourne when it came off the tracks shortly before 4 p.m. The rear three carriages of the eight-carriage train derailed and overturned onto their sides, with one sliding toward lower ground. Police, firefighters, paramedics, ambulances and air ambulance teams were sent to the scene, and the incident was declared a major emergency.
Passengers described the train beginning to shake before a sudden jolt and emergency braking sent personal belongings flying through the carriages. Images from the scene showed three overturned coaches surrounded by emergency personnel. All passengers were eventually evacuated safely, with some of the injured treated at the scene and others taken to hospitals. The derailment also caused major disruption across the local rail network, with services through Lewes suspended and passengers advised to avoid travelling through the affected area.
The cause of the derailment has not yet been officially established. Britain’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch has begun an investigation to determine exactly what happened. Reports and images from the scene have raised questions about the condition of the track, including whether high temperatures may have contributed to deformation, but this has not been confirmed as the cause. Authorities are therefore avoiding conclusions until the technical investigation is completed
