Rail Accident in England: Train Carrying Around 150 Passengers Derails, Injuring 20

A Southern Rail passenger train derailed near the town of Lewes in southeastern England. Twenty people were injured in the accident, two of whom are in serious condition.

According to emergency services, the train was carrying around 150 passengers and was traveling from London toward Sussex when it derailed.

Footage recorded at the scene shows at least three carriages overturned. Ambulances and emergency crews arrived in the area immediately.

Michael Bradfield, deputy chief of the Ambulance Service, said the 20 people taken to local hospitals had sustained “varying degrees of injury.” He said two of them were “seriously injured.”

British Transport Police said all passengers were safely evacuated from the train carriages.

It is not yet known what caused the accident. Southern Rail, the company operating the train, serves railway lines connecting London with southern England.

Rail infrastructure operator Network Rail said it is working with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to determine the cause of the derailment.

Serious rail incidents are considered relatively uncommon in Britain. However, in June, a collision between two passenger trains north of London killed the driver of one of them and injured 162 people. A preliminary investigation found that the driver had passed a red signal.