A train derailed between Haywards Heath and Lewes in East Sussex this afternoon, leaving at least three carriages on their side and trapping passengers, including a father and his six-year-old daughter. National Rail said all lines through the area were closed to allow emergency services to attend, with major disruption expected until 22:00.
Passenger describes chaos
Rob Bradley, travelling from London Victoria to Eastbourne with his daughter Mabel, was in the fourth carriage when the derailment occurred. He told BBC News: "We are doing okay, we were very lucky we were on the fourth carriage. The fifth went on its side."
Bradley described the moments before the crash: "As she sat down we felt the train speeding up and started to rock. Then our carriage jumped vertically upwards and we could tell it was a derailment. The emergency brakes went on the train and everything got thrown forward."
Injuries and response
He said the train skidded for a while before stopping, and that the back of the train was open with smoke and dust pouring in. He saw people with head injuries, blood and cuts. "It was quite pandemonium for a while. There's hundreds of police, fire and ambulance crews and everything," he added.
Air ambulances flew in to support the injured. Bradley and his daughter were about a stop from their destination, and Mabel was "desperate to see mummy." The first announcement was relatively "jovial," then there was no communication. He estimated it took about 20 minutes to half an hour for emergency services to arrive.
Trapped for over an hour
Bradley said it was "incredibly hot on the train, no windows, no doors open. One man was saying he was claustrophobic." He was stuck for over an hour after the derailment at around 4:30pm, finally getting off at around 5:30pm. Mabel has since been reunited with her mother.
