The railway line connecting Lewes and Haywards Heath will be closed for at least another 10 days. This closure is necessary for the recovery of a derailed train and subsequent track repairs.
Three carriages of a passenger train derailed near Lewes, East Sussex, on Thursday, 13 August. The incident resulted in two people sustaining serious but not life-threatening injuries, and 18 others were taken to hospital.
The Rail Accident and Investigation Branch completed its work at the site on Saturday, allowing Network Rail to begin the recovery operation. Network Rail and Southern Rail described the operation as "complex" due to the location, which is near a river, in a site of special scientific interest, and has restricted road access via a residential area.
Specialist equipment, including two 125-tonne rail-mounted cranes, is being brought to the site. Engineers are currently preparing the ground and railway to ensure stability before lifting the carriages. Once the train is removed, engineers will assess the track damage to determine the scale of repairs needed before services can resume.
John Whitehurst, interim CEO of Greater Thameslink Railway, stated that replacement transport would be provided where needed, and extra staff would be available at stations to assist passengers.