An old military shell uncovered during planned works at the Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station in Ghent has been removed and found not to be harmful, the rail authority SNCB and the rail infrastructure company Infrabel stated.
The discovery of the shell, which dates from the First World War, was made on Monday evening, and train traffic stopped for a time. The weapon was quickly made safe, but delays continued for a time.
However, the action, and the knock-on effects, meant some trains continued to be affected by delays into this morning – until Infrabel gave the all-clear.
The bomb disposal squad Dovo were called, and the bomb was secured without incident.
The shell was discovered about 300m from the platforms on the Brussels-bound side of the station, and while train traffic had to be rerouted to other parts of the station or delayed Infrabel said. While the disposal went well and without incident, they warned that this morning’s Brussels-bound traffic would be delayed, the effects would not be long-lasting.
And while the operation was completed by 05.50, the effects were likely felt well into the morning rush-hour.
Travellers, including commuters heading to Brussels and beyond, were advised to consult the SNCB app and website for up-to-date information.
