Lewes derailment: images show track defect before incident on hottest day

Network Rail and Southern owner GTR apologise after investigators reveal picture of possible heat-buckled track Rail operators have apologised after a report into last Thursday’s train derailment in East Sussex found a “track geometry irregularity” on the approach to the site where the train derailed on the hottest day of the year so far. An interim report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said CCTV images showed the fault existed before the incident occurred near Lewes, injuring 30 people. The watchdog published an image that appeared to show the track had buckled – something that can happen in high temperatures. The report said there had been “a sustained period of hot and dry weather” and that the ambient air temperature at the time was about 27C, according to the nearest weather station to the site. That will give time for the train to be recovered – a complex job involving the derailed carriages being lifted by crane – and for recovery teams to make sure evidence is preserved.

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