Infrabel installed a 'Warning Box' safety device at the Cambron-Casteau Station level crossing, near the Pairi Daiza zoological park, on Thursday.
The Warning Box will remain at the level crossing until August, with the main aim of educating and protecting the park’s staff and visitors.
Each year, approximately 80,000 visitors (3% of the total) travel to Pairi Daiza by train.
The Warning Box is a mobile device that triggers an audible alarm when someone attempts to cross a closed railway level crossing. As the barrier descends, a transmitter sends an infrared LED beam towards a receiver on the other side of the roadway.
An infraction interrupts the LED beam, causing a three-second alarm to sound, accompanied by a voice message encouraging the user to refrain from crossing the barrier. Since 2020, this system has been deployed in several municipalities in Wallonia and Brussels, and according to Infrabel, it has deterred half of the potential offenders.
In addition to the Warning Box, Infrabel has deployed anti-intrusion mats to urge users to exercise caution. The network operator drew attention to the high number of people injured or killed each year due to non-compliance with safety regulations at level crossings.
Belgium’s rail network has 1,621 level crossings. Since 2005, Infrabel has removed almost 450 of them to improve safety. Current statistics indicate a slight reduction in accidents at level crossings.
Infrabel launched a safety and punctuality improvement plan across the rail network in February 2024. This includes introducing the new emergency number 1711, installing LEDs on railway crossing barriers and implementing artificial intelligence-based cameras.
