Belgium's worst rail disaster commemorated 15 years later

The annual tribute to the victims of the 2010 Buizingen train collision – Belgium’s deadliest rail disaster to date – was held over the weekend near the site of the tragic accident.

On 18 February 2010, two trains collided near Buizingen station in Halle during a snowy morning rush hour, killing 19 people and injuring 160.

The investigation into the circumstances of the collision required years before a case was finally presented to the courts, almost a decade after the tragedy.

The courts ultimately recognised railway company SNCB and infrastructure manager Infrabel as the main responsible parties, but also noted that one driver bore some responsibility for failing to pay attention and running a red light, though no sentence was handed down.

Infrabel appealed and was fined €330,000, less than the initial amount of €550,000, as was SNCB.

Since the accident, the public railway companies have undertaken efforts to improve safety on the Belgian rail network. More than three quarters of the tracks (79%) are now equipped with the European ETCS system, which detects hazards or other trains using beacons on the tracks and on the rolling stock. The system is due to be installed across the entire network by the end of this year.

Passenger trains are also equipped with the TBL1+ emergency braking system, which had already been announced before the disaster, but whose implementation was accelerated afterwards.

Training has also been ordered for SCNB and Infrabel staff to ensure that they discuss any mistakes made with their superiors and do not keep them to themselves. Drivers are also entitled to an extra day's training on crossing signals.

Since the introduction of these various measures, the number of red signal breaches has fallen year on year to 51 in 2024, the lowest annual total since 2010, when 110 signal crossings were recorded.

The number of potentially dangerous signal crossings (for example, when a train crosses on to another track) fell from 51 to 14 over the same period.

Relatives of the victims of the 2010 train collision have gathered at the Buizingen town square every year to solemnly remember the disaster.

Every five years, including this year, the tribute is accompanied by a ceremony organised by the provinces of Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant.

This year, some speeches held a tinge of anger, with one speaker saying “some victims are still waiting for compensation in an inexplicable legal debate” and others pointing out that safety on the Belgian rail network still had a long way to go.

“It's improved a little, but there's still a lot to be done, so we hope that things will improve,” said Jacqueline Brassart.

New federal mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) was present at the ceremony and emphasised that plans are on track to have the automatic braking system installed on all passenger trains by the end of 2025.

“Absolute safety doesn't exist, and we're not going to say that either, but optimal safety is what we in Belgium have decided to do following this accident,” Crucke said.

Photo: Julien Warnand/Belga