Passenger Train Derails, Cars Flip in Southern England

A passenger train derailed in southern England on Friday, causing at least three carriages to flip onto their sides. The incident occurred near the tourist town of Lewes, on a Southern Rail service traveling from London's Victoria station to Eastbourne. Aerial footage showed emergency responders, including firefighters and paramedics, attending to passengers in a field adjacent to the wreckage. Ambulances and helicopters were present at the scene.

While official reports on injuries were not immediately released, passengers described a chaotic scene. Rob Bradley, who was traveling with his 6-year-old daughter, told the BBC that the train began to rock violently as it accelerated. His carriage then jolted upwards, and the brakes were immediately applied. "Everything got thrown forward. My laptop, my AirPods, our bags," he said. He described seeing that the back of their carriage was open, with smoke and dust filling the air, and observed that the car behind them had flipped and slid down an embankment.

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Everything got thrown forward. My laptop, my AirPods, our bags. The train kind of skidded for quite a while before it stopped and only then when we turned around did we see that the whole back of the train, literally where we were sat, was open and there was smoke and dust pouring into the carriage.

Bradley confirmed he and his daughter were unharmed but reported seeing other passengers in the overturned carriage with blood on their heads and clothing. Another passenger mentioned being cut when a window shattered. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed deep concern over the derailment and thanked the emergency services for their response.

The rail line and Network Rail confirmed the derailment, stating that emergency services were working to support those affected. The cause of the derailment was not immediately clear.

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Deeply concerned of reports of a derailment involving a Southern train. Grateful to emergency services who are on the scene supporting those impacted.