Train traffic between Mol and Hasselt was interrupted in both directions on Saturday afternoon due to a collision in Balen. No one was injured in the incident. Around 30 passengers on the approaching train are being evacuated. Infrabel advised travellers to use the regular offer of bus company De Lijn as an alternative.
It is still unclear how the collision happened near the level crossing on Bruine Klokstraat in Balen, as there are no camera images of the incident. "Around 12.30, a passenger car that was partially on the tracks was hit. There were no injuries so perhaps the driver had already left the vehicle," said Frédéric Petit, of railway manager Infrabel. "About 30 passengers were on the train travelling from Mol to Hasselt at the time. They are currently being evacuated and will be taken to their final destination by a replacement bus."
How long rail traffic between Mol and Hasselt will remain interrupted is still unclear but at first glance, the damage to the infrastructure does not appear to be particularly worrying. The hit vehicle is next to the tracks, and therefore not underneath the train.
