England train derailments investigated after 20 hurt

Two passenger train derailments in England in less than 24 hours are being investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, after 20 people were injured in the first incident and no passengers were injured in the second, officials said.

A passenger train derailed near Wickford in Essex on Friday. The UK government's Department for Transport said no passengers were injured.

On Thursday, a commuter train carrying 150 people between London and England's south coast veered off the tracks near Lewes. Police said Friday that two people suffered severe injuries and 18 others were treated for less serious injuries.

The RAIB is probing both derailments, which came during exceptionally hot weather. Martin Frobisher of Network Rail said the hot and dry weather this summer had presented exceptional challenges to the railway, but urged people not to speculate on the cause of either incident.

Frobisher said RAIB and Network Rail investigations would look at all possible causes and factors. Train accidents, particularly fatal ones, are relatively rare in Britain.