Rail Minister thanks Lewes emergency crews after train derailment
Lord Hendy showed appreciation for emergency response efforts
The Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, expressed gratitude to emergency services, railway industry staff, and local volunteers during a visit to Lewes following the train derailment last week.
During his visit to the Tenants Resource Centre in Lewes, Lord Hendy met with individuals from various organisations, including Network Rail, GTR, South East Coast Ambulance Service, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, British Transport Police, East Sussex County Council, Lewes District Council, and the Landport Road Community Centre.
Lord Hendy praised the swift and professional response, stating, “I want to pay tribute to everyone who responded so quickly and professionally to the incident outside Lewes last week. The hard work of our emergency services and railway staff, combined with the extraordinary community spirit shown by the people of Lewes, meant that passengers received the support and care they needed at a difficult time. My thoughts remain with those who were on board and everyone affected by this incident."
He also committed to ongoing efforts with the rail industry and investigators, adding, "We will continue to work closely with the rail industry and investigators to understand, help restore services for passengers, and understand what happened as well as if any lessons can be learned."
Support Efforts in Lewes
Emergency services, railway staff, and volunteers provided immediate assistance to passengers during the incident, including medical care, shelter, and refreshments.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has deployed a team to thoroughly examine the site, and a full independent safety investigation report is due to be published this lunchtime (Wednesday 19th August).
Current Travel Arrangements
Network Rail and Southern are working towards restoring full services on the affected line.
While repairs are ongoing, rail replacement buses are operating between Haywards Heath and Lewes.
The line remains closed until further notice, and passengers are advised to check travel updates before planning their journey.