LC accident near Sudbury

The 17:31 (headcode 2T27) Sudbury to Marks Tey service has been derailed. The train derailed after colliding with a sewage tanker on a user-worked level crossing ("UWC"at Sewage Works Lane between Sudbury and Bures.

We have been advised that 21 people have been injured in this incident, 1 seriously who is now in intensive care. The driver of the train (a Class 156 SuperSprinter (2-cars)) is suspected to have suffered a fractured vertebrae, and is now being treated at Colchester General Hospital. Our thoughts are with the family of those injured and involved with this incident.

The crossing is a user-worked crossing with gates and telephone. Network Rail have stated that the signaller did not receive a phone call from the user of the crossing. The driver (38) is now under arrest on suspicion of Dangerous Driving.

British Transport Police are on the scene and Suffolk Police have described it as a “major incident”. Fire crews are also at the scene.

National Express East Anglia have advised that buses will replace trains between Marks Tey and Sudbury and journey times are expected to be extended up to 30 minutes.

British Transport Police Inspector Ian Smart based at Liverpool Street said: “We have got up to 20 casualties sitting in the fields next to the railway track awaiting treatment for injuries which I would described as the walking wounded”.
“There is a fleet of ambulances coming in from across the region to attend to the victims. Two casualties received serious injuries. One was airlifted to Colchester Hospital and the second serious casualty is now at Colchester Hospital.”
“The tanker carrying the sewage appeared to have been split in two. The front carriage has been derailed and is hanging over the edge of a small bridge.”
He added: “This train will not be moving anywhere for at least two days while investigations into the collision take place.”

he entered the passenger area of the train to warn the passengers of the imminent collision