Lewes derailment - Thursday 13th August

[AlterEgo]

Of course they are. The British media are like deadly mosquitos, ready to suck on fresh blood whenever a serious incident occurs. No doubt they'll also be sitting in their studio & backseating the whole situation with unnecessary remarks to ensure they earn as much off of it as possible. Why can't they just respect the privacy of the driver, passengers and emergency services crew onboard and outside and simply have curtesy to not film until everyone's been evacuated?!

Because this is a newsworthy event which is very much in the public interest to cover.

 

[aaronspence]

The helicopter video is live here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cly5252xqdvt

EDIT: Helicopter has arrived on site, showing 3 medical helicopters in a nearby field and 3 carriages of the rear of the train on their side.

 

[Trumpers halt]

If you look on ADSB Exchange you can see the police helicopter orbiting an area of track next to the Landport estate. I know this route well and by that point you're already slowing down for the stop at Lewes which would have helped. Indeed the river is close by on the East and further on is the tunnel so this could have been a lot worse than appears at this time.

 

[mickey]

Of course they are. The British media are like deadly mosquitos, ready to suck on fresh blood whenever a serious incident occurs. No doubt they'll also be sitting in their studio & backseating the whole situation with unnecessary remarks to ensure they earn as much off of it as possible. Why can't they just respect the privacy of the driver, passengers and emergency services crew onboard and outside and simply have curtesy to not film until everyone's been evacuated?!

It’s well within the public interest to report on serious incidents like this - a quick look elsewhere in the world shows what it’s like to live in a country with no free press. No thanks from me.

I’d also far rather the professional outlets that are just about managing to cling on cover it so coverage is not all ‘citizen journalists’, i.e. amateurs on facebook or tiktok.

 

[GrandOldDukeOf]

I was on the train half an hour before this one and there was a massive jolt between Cooksbridge and Lewes, easily the worst one I've ever felt. I'd have assumed the driver reported it but judging by what's happened, it doesn't seem that way.

 

[357]

A source from the Department for Transport has told the BBC that the latest understanding is that there are "no serious or fatalities".

 

[ATS3]

It’s well within the public interest to report on serious incidents like this - a quick look elsewhere in the world shows what it’s like to live in a country with no free press. No thanks from me.

I’d also far rather the professional outlets that are just about managing to cling on cover it so coverage is not all ‘citizen journalists’, i.e. amateurs on facebook or tiktok.

The public interest is to report on the facts, not what the reports watching the feed think happened. And what does ”free press“ have to do with this? Delaying live reporting until the incident is understood better avoids any conflicting information from leaking out to the generally ignorant public. I’d also neither citizen journalists nor amateurs film frankly enough.

 

[Bertiethebobby]

Riding directly above a bogie gives a much different ride quality than elsewhere in the centre of a vehicle

That's certainly the case with the dreadful 196 units on WMT. In the centre of the carriage it's only uncomfortable, over the bogies when going over pointwork you'd think you were off the road.

 

[Intercity_225]

Is this the first incident of this magnitude involving an electrostar?

 

[DNCharingX]

Because this is a newsworthy event which is very much in the public interest to cover.

It may be in the public interest to cover but I would imagine it is not in the interests of anyone who works on the railway that people start fearing rail travel, cancelling plans, and so on, which is what I think broadcasting these horrific scenes achieves.

I'm sure that certain media outlets will be more than happy to accompany their footage with "are railways unsafe? would this have happened with automation? should you drive to work instead?", etc etc. Classic fear mongering, especially in light of the Bedford collision.

I think this explains why in this thread, people are trying to lessen the severity of this incident, perhaps they have an interest in people continuing to use the railways

 

[ATS3]

Because this is a newsworthy event which is very much in the public interest to cover.

Which can easily be done without a mosquito hovering over it

 

[trainmania100]

Is this the first incident of this magnitude involving an electrostar?

I think so, there have been minor derailments and 377442s fire (which involved top and tail 37s), but nothing else down here rings any bells

 

[ainsworth74]

Okay whether or not a news chopper should be visiting the site this is early is not directly relevant, it is what it is, so lets leave it there. If anyone wants to discuss media practices in the UK further please start a new thread.

 

[Smitham]

Is this the first incident of this magnitude involving an electrostar?

I was thinking/wandering the same. I can't think of another.

 

[frankmoh]

Is this the first incident of this magnitude involving an electrostar?

Must be. Surprising given they were introduced at the height of the Railtrack-era misfortunes.

 

[trivran]

Neighbour has said from what he hears on scene 'There's only 1 serious injury'.

I copy paste on to you, in an additive rather than detractive fashion, the words of the national broadcaster:



No serious injuries or fatalities, BBC understands.

Already put on to the thread 11 minutes ago! Alas.

 

[RichJF]

I was thinking/wandering the same. I can't think of another.

There was a Southeastern train in 2015 that hit cows & derailed but not onto its side.

 

[Posa]

Are these services guard or doo operation?

 

[trainmania100]

Are these services guard or doo operation?

This would have had a guard.

 

[AvidTrainGuy]

A source from the Department for Transport has told the BBC that the latest understanding is that there are "no serious or fatalities".

That's remarkable, given three coaches are on their side.

 

[ATS3]

It may be in the public interest to cover but I would imagine it is not in the interests of anyone who works on the railway that people start fearing rail travel, cancelling plans, and so on, which is what I think broadcasting these horrific scenes achieves.

I'm sure that certain media outlets will be more than happy to accompany their footage with "are railways unsafe? would this have happened with automation? should you drive to work instead?", etc etc. Classic fear mongering, especially in light of the Bedford collision.

I think this explains why in this thread, people are trying to lessen the severity of this incident, perhaps they have an interest in people continuing to use the railways

Quite correct. It's already started after the helicopter videos came out.

 

[Intercity_225]

Never been to the area, but am I right in saying the speed around Lewes is very slow?

 

[Farigiraf]

Either zero or very limited injuries/casualties, a rapid response, a quick evacuation, and some fairly clear information on rerouting and ticket acceptance from NR. Though these accidents are never good to see happen, given the fairly lax nature towards the heat-related issues lately on the railway (either no problem identified or total give up), I'd say this could've been a lot worse.

Sorry to those affected, bravo to those involved in sorting it out smoothly!

 

[trainmania100]

Never been to the area, but am I right in saying the speed around Lewes is very slow?

It is, but this is hamsey area so it's still relatively fast. Look at Google maps and you'll see it's still a long way from Lewes tunnel where the 20 starts

 

[Harlequinuk]

2 x OBS and a driver, all Eastbourne crew.

 

[Intercity_225]

It is, but this is hamsey area so it's still relatively fast.

Is it within braking distance though?

 

[Kilopylae]

Never been to the area, but am I right in saying the speed around Lewes is very slow?

Brighton-bound, I believe it's 10mph out of Lewes.

 

[AvidTrainGuy]

The public interest is to report on the facts, not what the reports watching the feed think happened. And what does ”free press“ have to do with this? Delaying live reporting until the incident is understood better avoids any conflicting information from leaking out to the generally ignorant public. I’d also neither citizen journalists nor amateurs film frankly enough.

God forbid people record events that will form part of history.

 

[tony6499]

This would have had a guard.

Aren't they DOO with On Board Supervisors ?

 

[D1015]

Thank God no serious injuries or fatalities, that's all I can say.