8 July 2008

BELGIUM - There will be extra security guards on the trams which ride on the coastal line.

This was decided at a meeting of the Flemish transport company De Lijn, the trade unions and the police.

The reason for the extra security is the incident Saturday evening in which a tram driver was shot at in Blankenberge.

At approximately 10:30 pm a tram was shot at between Wenduine and Blankenberge. One of the tram windows was broken by the air-riffle pellet, but no one was injured in the incident.

The service which links the resorts along the Flemish Coast came to a standstill due to strike action by the tram drivers.

Eight security guards will ride on the trams. The police along the coast will also be more vigilant.

It was the sixth incident of its kind in the space of a few weeks. The tram drivers went on strike Sunday because they say security is too lax on the coastal trams.

[flandersnews.be / Expatica]