The fire broke out yesterday morning in a signalling post at Brussels North, throwing the North-South link in the capital into chaos affecting trains running to and from the city, as well as through trains. The Brussels North-South link is one of the busiest in the country, as well as the most troublesome since it runs through a narrow underground tunnel and cannot be expanded to take account of a growth in rail traffic.
Related News: Fire in Brussels' Gare du Nord, delays expected throughout the day
The repair work requires the replacement of overhead electrical cables, and until that is complete, the SNCB is running a limited service. There are currently no P trains running, and on the Brussels-Antwerp line, only two IC trains are running per hour instead of four. The S4 and S10 lines were previously reported to be suspended, but in the end are running normally. The S4 connects Aalst with Jette and Brussels-Luxembourg before terminating in Vilvoorde, and does not use the North-South tunnel. The S10, on the other hand, uses the tunnel to link Aalst via Brussels with Dendermonde.
The NMBS said its online route planner is now up to date with the latest situation, allowing rail users to arrange their travel plans using the website or app.
Alan Hope
The Brussels Times
The Brussels Times