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Lewes derailment - Thursday 13th August

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Trumpers halt

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My neighbour is on board and his first message was at 1559hrs and didn’t report that help was present until 1645. He also stated that pax who were first aiders werent being allowed to move into neighbouring coaches to help. The Police helicopter is active above Lewes now.

The below link could suggest that the track was inspected yesterday.

 

trainmania100

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Eastbourne bound trains appear to be running as normal, so I assume it didn't get to Lewes despite what websites show.

Photos show lots of long grass and tussocks, which probably won't help vehicle recovery. can't imagine it'll be open any time soon,

Hopefully no serious injuries. While no details on what caused it, but assuming possible heat related stress on rails, and that an investigation will take time, can we expect speed restrictions across the entire network so this doesn't happen again?
 

aaronspence

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My neighbour is on board and his first message was at 1559hrs and didn’t report that help was present until 1645. He also stated that pax who were first aiders werent being allowed to move into neighbouring coaches to help. The Police helicopter is active above Lewes now.

The below link could suggest that the track was inspected yesterday.


Photo posted on twitter at 4:30 show the carriage swarming with rescue workers
 

Trainguy34

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How fast will it have been going at this location, do you know?
Judging it's by location and the fact it has predicted times in TRUST for the Lewes stop, it was probably quite close to the station so going quite slowly.

OpenRailwayMap says the speed limits here range from 90-70mph, although it may have been slowing down for the 20mph of Lewes station itself.
 

PP57601

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I've seen regular reports online about poor ride quality in this area. I wonder if the forces experienced in the cab would be different to forces experienced at the rear of the train.
Riding directly above a bogie gives a much different ride quality than elsewhere in the centre of a vehicle
 

Krokodil

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I've seen regular reports online about poor ride quality in this area. I wonder if the forces experienced in the cab would be different to forces experienced at the rear of the train.
Quite possibly. I remember one stretch of track in the NW where the back of a 150 would be bouncing up and down to the limits of its suspension, while the driver couldn't feel anything in the front.
 

Bishopstone

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I think this section of line has a temporary speed restriction in the Up direction. On my last few passages through the area we proceeded slowly from Lewes to Cooksbridge.
 

D6130

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Judging it's by location and the fact it has predicted times in TRUST for the Lewes stop, it was probably quite close to the station so going quite slowly.

OpenRailwayMap says the speed limits here range from 90-70mph, although it may have been slowing down for the 20mph of Lewes station itself.
70 on the Down Line from Cooksbridge, dropping to 20 at the station end of the tunnel. The train would have - or should have - been braking at that point.
 

Geeves

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Can I ask where these photos are from please?
They can only be from a passenger standing on the outside of the train.

Looks like it was dragging the rear carriages a good way looking at the now zero vegetation and piles of ballast.

The rear driving car is way down behind the two guys stood on the outside
 

NaZzAtAzEr

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Riding directly above a bogie gives a much different ride quality than elsewhere in the centre of a vehicle
Sorry I meant that the rear of the train as in the last coach.


Similar to when you ride a roller coaster. The back always seems more turbulent than the front.
 

Trainguy34

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They got sent to me from someone I work with, but they all seem to have ended up on twitter around the same time anyway
I just reverse image searched it and it came up with the likes of Twitter/X, instagram, even apparently The Independent!
 

brad465

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Hophead

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It's easy enough for passengers to divert themselves via Brighton. Though National Rail does state no trains Haywards Heath to Lewes till at least 22:00: a message I would expect to see revised before then.
 

CalderRail

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Judging it's by location and the fact it has predicted times in TRUST for the Lewes stop, it was probably quite close to the station so going quite slowly.

OpenRailwayMap says the speed limits here range from 90-70mph, although it may have been slowing down for the 20mph of Lewes station itself.
Hmmmm, a blessing if that's so. Reduced forces involved always helps.
 

bangor-toad

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I'm not in the area but the images look as if they are from the section between the bridges over Pellbrook Cut and Chalkpit Cut.
If I'm correct, about 200m further on the River Ouse is quite close to the tracks and that could have been much, much worse.

EDIT: Pictures have started. It's actually about 200m south of Chalkpit Cut bridge, just past where the river is close to the tracks.

The images appear to show the carriages have structurally held up well so hopefully the passengers and staff are OK.
Mr Toad
 
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aaronspence

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One of the tv news helicopters is on the way so should get some more images soon

Photo shows G-TVHD heading south towards the scene
 

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ATS3

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One of the tv news helicopters is on the way so should get some more images soon

Photo shows G-TVHD heading south towards the scene
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 courtesy to not film until everyone's been evacuated?!
 

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