A Southern Railway train derailed near Lewes in East Sussex on Thursday, 13 August 2026, causing serious injuries to two people and minor injuries to several others. The incident led to the closure of key rail routes serving Eastbourne, severely disrupting travel during the Eastbourne International Airshow weekend.
Train Service Suspensions and Replacement Operations
A landslip between Lewes and Eastbourne has blocked all railway lines, resulting in the cancellation of all train services between these stations. The rail line between Polegate and Eastbourne remains closed until further notice with no trains operating on this section. Southern Railway has deployed rail replacement buses between Polegate and Eastbourne,
but these services are reportedly busy with potential queues forming.
Southern Railway’s Response and Passenger Guidance
Southern Railway has added extra carriages on trains running between Brighton and Polegate to increase capacity on unaffected routes. Ticket acceptance policies have been extended to allow passengers to travel at no extra cost on Southeastern services between Hastings and London as well as on alternative routes operated by Southern, Thameslink, and Gatwick Express. For travel between Eastbourne and London, the fastest off-peak route is via Hastings, where passengers can switch to Southeastern services.
Passenger Impacts and Journey Time Delays
Passengers traveling between Lewes and Eastbourne should expect cancellations and delays, with up to 60 minutes
of additional journey time anticipated. Alternative routes involving travel via Brighton or Hastings add changes and extend journey duration. Replacement buses between Polegate and Eastbourne are operational but crowded, requiring passengers to allow for possible waiting times. Travelers are advised to check journey details prior to departure and to allow extra time, especially when attending the Eastbourne Airshow.
Disruption During Eastbourne International Airshow
The train disruption coincides with the Eastbourne International Airshow scheduled over four days, including 15 August 2026. The rail outage affects travel plans for visitors attending the event and increases pressure on local road traffic and parking. Southern Railway and Network Rail
are conducting inspections, recovery, and repair work around Lewes, with full service restoration delayed beyond the event weekend.
