Major travel disruption between Lewes and Haywards Heath is expected today following the derailment of a train in the Lewes area on Thursday,13 August.
The 2.24pm Southern train from London Victoria was travelling to Eastbourne when the incident occurred shortly before 4pm.
Emergency services said around 150 people were on board, with two people sustaining serious injuries and 18 incurring less serious injuries. All passengers were evacuated from the train.
Official investigations are underway as to the cause of the incident.
As of 8.30am on Friday morning (14 August), all lines between Lewes and Haywards Heath are closed with all services cancelled.
Other routes affected include services between Ore, Eastbourne, Seaford and Brighton, and between Ore, Eastbourne and London Victoria.
Rail replacement buses will be operating between Haywards Heath and Lewes, calling at Cooksbridge and Plumpton.
Southern has added extra carriages to services between Brighton and Hastings, and Brighton and Seaford, “wherever possible”.
Passengers travelling towards Eastbourne or Hastings will need to change trains at Brighton to continue their journey.
Passengers can also travel on the following services at no additional cost:
- Southern services between Brighton and London Victoria
- Thameslink services between Brighton and London Bridge
- Gatwick Express services between Brighton and London Victoria
- London Underground between all London terminals
- Southeastern services between Hastings and London terminals
Plus on Brighton and Hove bus services on the following routes:
- 28 – Brighton (St Peter’s Church), Moulsecoomb (Brighton University), Falmer, Lewes (Post Office / Law Courts), Polegate, and Eastbourne
- 29 / 29B / 29X – Brighton (St Peter’s Church), Moulsecoomb (Brighton University), Falmer, Lewes (Post Office / Law Courts), Uckfield, Crowborough, Eridge, and Tunbridge Wells
Advice from National Rail recommends allowing at least 60 minutes of additional journey time and to check journey details before setting off.
Other issues affecting Southern Rail this morning include a signalling fault between Streatham Common and Selhurst that means fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
As a result, trains running between these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 15 minutes or “revised”.
Disruption is expected until midday.
In addition, there has been a points failure between Three Bridges and Horsham, in West Sussex, meaning all lines are blocked.
Trains running through these stations will be cancelled or revised, with disruption expected until 10am.
Read more: Lewes train derailment latest