The East Sussex railway line, where a train derailed on August 13, is set to reopen in September. Crews are continuing to remove the carriages that left the track, with rail bosses aiming to reopen the route before the end of the school holidays.
The stretch of railway between Lewes and Haywards Heath is scheduled to remain closed until September 1. This period allows for the complex recovery of the train, which involves lifting the derailed carriages by crane, and for teams to preserve evidence.
Three carriages at the back of a Southern train derailed, injuring 30 people and trapping passengers. Twenty people were taken to hospital, with two sustaining serious but not life-threatening injuries.
An initial report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) on Wednesday identified a track defect on the approach to the derailment site. The incident occurred on what was the hottest day of the year so far, with the ambient air temperature around 27C.
Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail's Sussex route director, apologised for the disruption and highlighted the complexity of the recovery due to the derailment's proximity to the River Ouse. John Whitehurst, chief executive of Greater Thameslink Railway, stated that getting the line open by the end of the school holidays is a priority.