Train delays to and from Brussels

12 June 2006

BRUSSELS — Train delays to and from Brussels were still being reported on Monday morning after an overhead cable snapped during Sunday’s warm weather.

Hundreds of passengers were left stranded for a couple of hours on Sunday and delays were reported on the line between Denderleeuw and Brussels.

The warm weather was blamed for the cabling fault, in combination with several other factors, news service VRT reported.

One line was cleared on Sunday evening and Belgian rail NMBS-SNCB worked all throughout the night to clear the second line, but to no avail.

The second line was expected to be cleared at about midday on Monday.

Temporary measures were introduced to allow Monday morning’s peak hour train traffic to proceed as smoothly as possible.

“Until 10am, train traffic to Brussels will have priority, which will cause minor delays,” a spokesman for network authority Infrabel said.

He said coastal-bound trains will be diverted via Jette, leading to delays of about 15 minutes.

The temporary measures would be reversed after 10am, giving coastal-bound trains priority.

The NMBS-SNCB hoped train travel could resume its normal timetable on Monday afternoon.

Subject: Belgian news