Two seriously injured, nine others hurt when three cars tipped near Lewes. RAIB investigating; heatwave may have buckled rails. Second major UK train incident this summer.
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A passenger train derailed Thursday afternoon near Lewes, England, leaving two people with serious injuries and nine others hurt, British Transport Police said.
The train was traveling from London Victoria to Eastbourne when three passenger cars tipped onto their sides around 3:54 p.m. local time. About 150 people were on board. Emergency crews evacuated those trapped inside, the BTP said on X.
"We're responding alongside paramedics and the fire service and will provide more information as soon as we can," the BTP said.
Patients were assessed and treated at the scene; some were taken to local hospitals. The South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed the passenger count in a statement.
Yana Ludwig, 56, a U.S. citizen on the train, called the crash "completely terrifying." She told CNN there was a banging sound, then the carriage slid for about 10 seconds before "everything just went topsy turvy."
Charlie Hobden, 31, from Lewes, described the derailment to the BBC as "a sliding snake." He said passengers opened doors after seeing people standing on top of the train, then climbed out on ladders with help from emergency services.
No obvious cause has been identified. Temperatures reached about 95 degrees Fahrenheit Thursday, and some train services had been canceled or reduced speed due to the heatwave. Britain's rail network has faced speed restrictions during heatwaves because high temperatures can buckle rails. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said it was deploying a team to the site, CNN reported.
National Rail warned of "major disruption" for several hours, saying no trains could run through Lewes and Haywards Heath until further notice. The line is a key commuter route linking London with the south coast.
The derailment is the second major train incident in Britain this summer. In June, two passenger trains collided head-on, injuring 80 people and killing a driver. The RAIB will examine whether the heat contributed to Thursday's crash, though no determination has been made.
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