Disastrous train crash shakes up Belgium

Yesterday morning around 08:30 am, two commuter trains collided just outside Brussels. It has been confirmed that at least 18 people have died and another 171 were injured, but the rescue teams are still looking for passengers who are trapped underneath the train wrecks. The rescue operations went very smoothly and a field hospital was set up in the area to attend to the victims. It is almost certain at this point that one of the train drivers ignored a red light. At the moment researchers are trying to figure out what caused the driver to ignore the light.

The NMBS and Infrabel have expressed their regret and sympathy on their websites and have given a press conference yesterday at noon. A crisis centre has been set up to inform the families of the victims and to answer questions of concerned family members. Up to now, however, no formal statement has been made about the cause of the accident.

In my opinion, the crisis communication surrounding the train crash has, so far, been handled well by the NMBS, but there are huge question marks as to how this kind of mistake could have happened. There should be a minimum security system preventing these kind of catastrophes from happening. In that respect, the NMBS has received a lot of criticism. With the train catastrophe in Pécrot in 2001, the NMBS stated they were going to adopt a security system, that would cause trains to stop moving when a red light is ignored. So far, only 25 of 1100 trains are equipped with this system because in 2001 the NMBS decided to wait for European legislation. It will only be by 2013 that all locomotives are equipped with a safety system. Even now, after a second train crash, the procedure won’t be sped up. A decision that may prove to be fatal to the image of the NMBS.

Robin

Sources:
http://www.gva.be/nieuws/binnenland/aid903077/machinist-kruipt-door-het-oog-van-de-naald.aspx
http://www.gva.be/nieuws/binnenland/aid903215/treinbestuurder-reed-effectief-door-rood-licht.aspx
http://www.demorgen.be/dm/nl/989/Binnenland/article/detail/1068275/2010/02/16/Trein-uit-Leuven-reed-wel-degelijk-door-rood.dhtml
http://www.demorgen.be/dm/nl/989/Binnenland/article/detail/1068245/2010/02/16/Experts-voeren-onderzoek-naar-oorzaak-treinramp.dhtml
http://www.vtm.be/nieuws/binnenland/33176