Passenger train derails and overturns near Lewes in southeast England, no deaths reported
A passenger train derailed and overturned near Lewes in East Sussex at 15:54 local time on 13 August 2026, sending multiple carriages on their side. Emergency services rushed to the scene and government sources reported no deaths or serious injuries.
Derailment near Lewes
A Southern Rail passenger train derailed near Lewes railway station in East Sussex at 15:54 local time (14:54 GMT) on Thursday, 13 August 2026. The incident occurred on the line between Haywards Heath and Lewes, about 72 km south of London. British Transport Police confirmed on X that officers were on scene alongside paramedics and fire crews. Photos on social media and aerial footage from a BBC helicopter showed multiple carriages in the rear part of the train lying on their side, with passengers standing atop the overturned cars.
- Passenger train derails near Lewes station at 15:54 local time (14:54 GMT)
- British Transport Police, paramedics, and fire crews arrive on scene
- Government sources cited by BBC and Sky News report no deaths or serious injuries
- RAIB (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) called in to investigate, per BBC
- Southern Railways expects major disruptions to continue until approximately 22:00 local time
Casualty reports
Government sources cited by the BBC and Sky News indicated there were no deaths or serious injuries. Ouest France, citing AFP and local media including The Guardian, reported that all passengers had been accounted for and that only a few minor injuries were recorded. Earlier reports from Reuters and AP noted no immediate reports of casualties. Emergency services, including ambulances and trauma helicopters, were deployed en masse to the site.
Official response
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander posted on X that she was deeply concerned by the reports of the derailment involving a Southern train and expressed gratitude to emergency services on the scene. She said the government was working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to assist passengers. According to the BBC, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) was already called in to investigate. The cause of the derailment remained unclear.
Travel disruption
Southern Railways warned of major disruptions expected to last until approximately 22:00 local time. The company said on X that lines were closed between Lewes and the stations of Brighton, Haywards Heath, and Seaford/Eastbourne, and encouraged passengers able to do so to postpone their travel in the area until the end of the day. The BBC reported that nearly no trains were running between Brighton, Lewes, Haywards Heath, Seaford, and Eastbourne.
Previous incident context
Rail accidents remain rare in the United Kingdom, according to 20minutes. In June, a collision between two passenger trains north of London killed one person, the driver of one of the trains, and injured 162 others. The investigation found that the driver had passed a red stop signal.
