NMBS/SNCB and Infrabel named as suspects in 2010 crash

The rail authority NMBS/SNCB and its infrastructure partner, Infrabel, have been designated as official suspects in relation to the train crash at Buizingen in February of 2010 in which 19 people died and 162 were injured.

The complaint by an investigating magistrate also concerns the driver of one of the two busy commuter trains that collided that morning. The accident happened when one train travelling from Leuven to ’s Gravenbrakel/Braine-le-Comte passed through a red light and collided head-on with a train going from Quiévrain to Liège. The driver concerned is thought to be the driver of the Leuven train.

A report issued in 2012 by an investigating committee concluded that the accident was the result of human error but also pointed up some technical problems. The report led the government to speed up the installation of new braking systems.

NMBS/SNCB and Infrabel said that they expected to be designated as supsects – one step short of pressing official charges. Neither wished to comment further but promised their full co-operation with the inquiry. The three parties involved will now have access to the full dossier, as well as the technical report from the investigating committee.

Photo: Yves Herman/REUTERS