A SECOND train derailed within 24 hours of the first today, after a service provider had said such incidents are “incredibly rare.”

A Greater Anglia train derailed near Wickford in Essex today, after three Southern carriages had derailed on their side the day before, trapping passengers near Lewes, East Sussex.

Rail union RMT said the country will need to “reflect on the causes” of the East Sussex train derailment, which left two passengers seriously injured on the hottest day of the year.

Union general secretary Eddie Dempsey added: “We must praise emergency services and rail workers for their quick reactions under difficult circumstances on the hottest day of the year.

“We will need to reflect on the causes of this incident once a full investigation has been carried out.”

While details of today’s incident were not made immediately clear, British Transport Police (BTP) said that there were no reported injuries and images showed the train remained upright.

Around 150 people had been on board the first train from London Victoria to Eastbourne on Thursday, and two were taken to major trauma centres with “severe” injuries following the incident.

BTP said today their injuries are not deemed to be life-threatening.

A statement said: “They both remain in hospital and the 18 people who were also treated at hospital for less serious injuries have been discharged.”

John Whiteshurst, CEO of Greater Thameslink Railway, the state-owned operator that runs Southern, told the BBC: “The railway is safe. These types of incidents are incredibly rare.

“We have control processes in place that involve inspection, temporary speed restrictions, or even suspending services if that’s required.”