Complicated recovery: three carriages derailed near Lewes in Sussex on Thursday, Aug 13. Access to the site is almost impossible by road, according to Network Rail
It will be at least another 10 days before the rail line between Haywards Heath and Lewes is open for services again, following last week’s derailment in Sussex.
Passengers heading for the south coast “are advised to check before they travel and, where possible, use alternative train services via Brighton”, according to a joint statement from Network Rail and Southern.
The closure is while the derailed train is recovered and repairs to the railway are carried out.
Rail replacement buses will run between Lewes and Haywards Heath, serving Cooksbridge and Plumpton. “These buses have limited capacity,” the rail companies advise.
Tickets will be accepted on relevant alternative Southern, Thameslink and Southeastern services as well as Brighton and Hove Buses and London Underground services between London terminal stations.
Journey planning apps and websites are being updated at least one day in advance for each following day. Passengers are advised to check live updates before they travel.
“If customers would prefer to postpone their journey until the line is reopened, their ticket will remain valid for travel and can be used at a later date. It will also be accepted by all other operators on the day of travel,” the statement said.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch completed its work on site on Saturday and has handed the site back to Network Rail. RAIB’s investigation into the derailment continues.
“Three carriages derailed and slid part-way down the embankment. These will need to be carefully lifted away by crane.
“The location makes this particularly difficult. The railway is close to a river, in a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and restricted road access is only via a residential area. As much specialist equipment as possible is being brought to the site by rail, given the challenges of access by road.
“Engineers are now preparing the site for two 125-tonne rail-mounted cranes, among the largest cranes available for use on the railway. Before lifting can begin, teams must make sure the ground and railway are stable and strong enough to safely support the cranes and the weight of the carriages.
“Once the train has been removed, engineers will be able to fully assess the damage to the railway and understand the scale of the repair work needed before services can resume safely.”
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