Rush hour travel chaos with ‘major disruption’ after Lewes train crash & ‘damaged wires’ on second London route

COMMUTERS are facing rush hour chaos this morning with “major disruption” affecting the rail network after a train crash in Lewes. Dozens of passengers managed to escape a train after being trapped in overturned carriages following the horror in Lewes, East Sussex, just before 4pm yesterday. Rail replacement buses have been put in place following the horror crashCredit: Refer to source A train derailment in Lewes has sparked major disruption on the rail networkCredit: Refer to source Further disruption has now been sparked by damage to the overhead electric wires between London St Pancras International and Bedford. Trains running between the two stations may be cancelled, severely delayed or revised, National Rail said. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Commuters are advised to check if their Thameslink tickets are valid with other providers ahead of travelling to Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester. Major disruption along the route is expected to continue until around midday. Damage to overhead power lines has left another busy route closed as trains between London St Pancras International and Bedford are cancelled or delayed Credit: TFL Meanwhile, following the Lewes derailment trains are currently unable to run through the area as the emergency services and rail accident investigators remain on scene. Major disruption is expected to continue for several days to come with the route completely closed off to trains. The derailment is affecting routes between Ore, Eastbourne, Seaford and Brighton, and also between Ore, Eastbourne and London Victoria. Rail replacement buses will be running between Haywards Heath and Lewes, calling at Cooksbridge and Plumpton. Most read in The Sun Passengers travelling today have been advised to allow an extra hour to make their journey as the rail network faces serious disruption. The Lewes derailment is affecting Southern Rail services while the disruption between London St Pancras and Bedford is affecting Thameslink services. Following yesterday’s horror train crash there was “major disruption” across the entire Sussex coastal network during peak hours. A “do not travel” warning remains in place from Southern Railway. Network Rail has confirmed the stretch between Lewes and Haywards Heath will remain closed indefinitely while complex investigations and infrastructure repairs are carried out. Trains that normally run between London Victoria and Hastings / Ore will be either running between London Victoria and Brighton or cancelled. Busy routes including both ways from Brighton to London were all affected yesterday. Cops, paramedics, and fire crews were scrambled to the crash after the train derailed at around 3.54pm. The rear three carriages left the track and rolled onto their sides, trapping around 40 of the 150 passengers, with one sliding partially down the embankment. Twenty people in total went to the hospital for treatment, including two who suffered serious injuries and were sent to a major trauma centre. Eighteen people were taken by ambulance, while a further two made their own way as temperatures climbed to 38C in London.