A passenger described a “violent jolt” as a train derailed near Lewes, saying people were thrown about inside the carriages. The incident has prompted concern over rail safety during exceptionally hot weather, with early discussion focusing on whether heat-related track damage may have contributed.

The derailment occurred in Sussex during a heatwave, when high temperatures can cause railway tracks to expand or buckle. Emergency services attended and the cause remains subject to investigation; the report presents the passenger’s account alongside wider concerns about disruption and risks to rail travel in extreme heat.