LIVE: Latest rail and fire updates across the South - Updated 11:47 - 17.08.2026

Latest information as of 11:47 on Monday, 17 August:

West Sussex

Ford: West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service was called at 10:03 on Friday, 14 August, after approximately 300 tonnes of waste caught fire inside an industrial building at a waste-transfer site in Ford Road.

Crews worked with the site owner, Southern Water and the Environment Agency. A controlled burn was initially used because this was considered safer and environmentally cleaner than immediately disturbing the burning waste.

Heavy machinery was used on Saturday to remove the waste from the building so firefighters could extinguish it safely. West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s latest statement confirms that the fire was safely extinguished on Sunday, crews have left the scene and responsibility has been handed back to the site’s responsible person.

No continuing road closure or public smoke warning was included in the latest statement. No other new major active fire has been publicly listed by West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.

Coastway engineering: Late-night Southern services between Brighton and Worthing will be altered from approximately 23:30 tonight until Thursday, 20 August.

London Victoria to Worthing services will be diverted to terminate at Brighton, with replacement buses operating between Brighton or Hove and Worthing or West Worthing.

The 22:20 Southampton Central to Brighton service will not call at Southwick or Portslade, with a replacement bus operating from Worthing. The 22:52 Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton service will terminate at Littlehampton, with a replacement bus continuing towards Brighton at 23:52.

East Sussex

County fire update: East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has not publicly listed a new major active fire. This does not mean that no smaller incidents are taking place.

Lewes rail derailment: The railway between Lewes and Haywards Heath remains closed following the derailment on Thursday, 13 August. Southern and National Rail’s latest operational update was issued at 04:47 on Monday, 17 August.

Trains will remain suspended until at least the end of Wednesday, 26 August, and the closure is likely to continue beyond that date while the train is recovered and repairs are completed.

Network Rail and Southern’s latest joint recovery statement was published on Sunday, 16 August. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch completed its work at the scene on Saturday and handed the site back to Network Rail, although RAIB’s investigation into the cause continues. RAIB has not published a newer public statement.

Three carriages derailed and slid part-way down an embankment. Two 125-tonne rail-mounted cranes are being prepared for the recovery operation. The location is close to a river and within a Site of Special Scientific Interest, while restricted road access is available only through a residential area.

Network Rail’s Sussex route director Lucy McAuliffe said: “This is a complex recovery operation in a very difficult location, and our teams are working hard to recover the carriages and repair the railway.”

Southern says: “Our absolute priority is the welfare of our passengers and colleagues.”

Replacement buses are operating between Haywards Heath and Lewes, calling at Plumpton and Cooksbridge, although capacity is limited. Additional carriages have been added to services between Brighton and Eastbourne.

There are no direct trains from London to Eastbourne or Hastings. Passengers should travel through Brighton, changing again at Eastbourne for Hastings, and allow at least 60 additional minutes.

British Transport Police has not published a newer Lewes statement. Its latest confirmed update was issued at 13:09 on Friday, 14 August, and is not a new update.

BTP said more than 100 passengers were safely evacuated. At the time of that statement, two people with serious but non-life-threatening injuries remained in hospital and 18 others had been discharged.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Drummond-Smith said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with those who were injured and their loved ones.”

BTP continues to ask anyone who was aboard the train and has not spoken to officers to call 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting reference 521 of 13 August.

Polegate landslip: A speed restriction remains in place between Polegate and Eastbourne following a landslip. Trains must travel more slowly through the area, adding to journey times on services towards Eastbourne and Hastings.

Uckfield line: Southern’s latest update, issued at 10:31 on Monday, says no trains can operate between Crowborough and Uckfield until at least 20:00.

Urgent track repairs and speed restrictions in the Edenbridge Town area are disrupting services between London Bridge and Uckfield. Trains from London will generally terminate at Crowborough, although some may terminate at Oxted or be cancelled throughout.

Southern has warned that there may be periods when no trains operate between Oxted and Uckfield. Limited replacement buses are available and passengers should allow at least 60 additional minutes.

Tickets are being accepted on Southeastern services through Tunbridge Wells, London Underground and Brighton & Hove bus routes 29, 29B and 29X.

Hastings engineering: Buses will replace late-night trains between Hastings, Ore, Rye and Ashford International from approximately 23:00 tonight. The work will also affect late-night services on Wednesday and Thursday.

Hampshire

New Forest wildfire: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service’s latest confirmed update was issued at 20:00 on Sunday, 16 August, and is not a new update.

Firefighters are continuing preventative work, locating and extinguishing hotspots and maintaining a wet-line perimeter around the affected ground. Crews expect to remain involved for several days because of the fire’s size, difficult terrain and areas of deep-burning peat.

The fire was confirmed as fully surrounded at 10:30 on Saturday, 15 August. Around 1.6 square kilometres of the New Forest has been affected.

By 19:00 on Friday, the response had involved 169 appliances from 93 fire stations and almost 10,000 hours of crew time, with support from neighbouring services and national wildfire specialists.

People are asked to avoid the operational area south of the A31, including Backley Enclosure, Soarley Beeches, Stirking Edge Wood, Bratley Wood and Sandy Ridge. Hotspots may not be visible and entering the fire ground could place people at risk and delay operations.

Residents affected by smoke should close their windows and doors.

A31 closure: Both carriageways remain closed between the M27 and Ringwood. The westbound closure extends from M27 junction 2 at Ower to the A338 at Ringwood, while the eastbound closure runs from the A338 to M27 junction 1 at Cadnam.

National Highways’ latest confirmed position is that the road is unlikely to reopen before Thursday, 20 August. Repairs include resurfacing, replacing at least 1,000 metres of boundary fencing and repairing several hundred metres of safety barrier.

Drivers should follow signed diversion routes, ignore satnav shortcuts, allow additional time and watch for free-roaming livestock.

No other new major active fire has been publicly listed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.

How to stay safe during the high fire risk

• Do not light bonfires or campfires while conditions remain exceptionally dry.
• Avoid using barbecues in the countryside, parks, woodland or other open spaces.
• Make sure cigarettes and other smoking materials are fully extinguished.
• Take bottles, glass and other litter home because sunlight passing through glass can start fires.
• Do not park vehicles on dry grass because hot exhaust systems can ignite vegetation.
• If you encounter a wildfire, move to a safe location well away from the flames and smoke.
• Call 999 immediately if you see a fire. Give a precise location, including an access point or what3words location if available.
• Do not attempt to tackle a wildfire yourself.
• Keep windows and doors closed if smoke is affecting your home.

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