Baby born in Brussels metro station gets free travel for life

A woman has given birth at Beekkant metro station in Molenbeek - and her child was gifted a lifetime pass for free rides on the Brussels’ Stib network to commemorate the unusual birth.

Describing the birth as “a happy event” in a post on social networks, Stib said it was the first "metro baby" recorded in Brussels.

The mother went into early labour at about 18.30 on Sunday evening while using the metro and Stib sent staff to assist until medical professionals could arrive.

“Our staff brought her blankets to make the birth as comfortable as possible and to give her as much privacy as possible,” spokeswoman Cindy Arents explained.

“They also cordoned off part of the platform so that the woman and her family could still be shielded a bit from the other travellers… It's a moment we'll never forget.”

The mother had been at the hospital earlier that same day, where she was told that labour was not imminent.

After delivering a baby girl at the metro station, she and the child were then taken to Erasmus Hospital where both were doing well, according to reports.

The metro station did not have to be closed during the incident and metro traffic continued to run as usual.

“It was Sunday evening – it’s a lot quieter on our network then,” Arents said. “After the birth, we sounded an announcement in the station to congratulate the mother and her brand-new daughter.”