Lewes derailment: how will the train be recovered?

[Nicholas Lewis]

Network Rail have issued a video.

So far they have been building a large vehicle compound / car park (couldn't they use a minibus shuttle from nearby existing parking area, do their staff not walk anywhere ?) rather than build a short term temporary compound

Also built a hard standing base for cranes, and doing some ecology work. They have also temporarily rerouted some signal cables.

Doesn't look like they have actually done any recovery so far of the toppled vehicles, and video suggests they still haven't got a clue when line might reopen

As there using Kirows cranes for recovery probably at maximum reach they will need to use the cranes outriggers to maximise lift weight. They exert enormous force into the ground so it it needs to be suitable to resist that force and the embankment fill wont provide that. So looks from the video they are installing some form of piling cap to reach down into firmer soil rather than a full size pad for a road crane.

Theyve given themselves 10 days of which two have elapsed so its still looks achievable as 2-3 days to relay the disturbed track section should be more than sufficient although depends if there is an underlying earthworks issue. Elstow by comparison was more straight forward with good road access and a suitable ground conditions for a large road crane.

 

[Harlequinuk]

Class 47 and Class 66 on site today

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Aug 2026 ==

Derailment of a passenger train at Lewes

Investigation into the derailment of a passenger train at Lewes, East Sussex, 13 August 2026.

www.gov.uk

Initial report into the detailment