2024-02-15 10:50:00
Infrabel has set up 1711, a new emergency number accessible to anyone noticing a dangerous situation near public level crossings. LEDs will also be installed on crossing barriers to improve safety on the rail network. These two new measures are part of a global action plan presented Thursday by the manager, in the presence of the CEO, Benoît Gilson, and the Minister of the Interior, Annelies Verlinden.
The Belgian railway network, one of the densest in Europe, currently has 1,621 level crossings. Last year, the number of accidents at level crossings (31 incidents/6 deaths) and the number of reports of intrusions on the tracks (632 incidents/5 deaths) decreased slightly. But their impact on rail traffic has, on the other hand, increased significantly, with a cumulative daily average of 12.5 hours of cumulative daily delays, i.e. twice as much as in 2021.
In order to improve security on the network, Infrabel has set up a new emergency call number, 1711, to allow witnesses to report any dangerous situation. Rail traffic will thus be interrupted more quickly in the event of a risk of incident.
In addition, by 2034, 176 level crossings (including 20 this year) will be equipped with LED lighting on barriers to improve their visibility, particularly for motorists.
Furthermore, last year, 632 reports of intrusions on the tracks were recorded, resulting in five deaths and four serious injuries. These intrusions caused an average of nearly 10 hours of delay per day.
To combat this phenomenon, Infrabel has already secured the network’s “hotspots” and regularly carries out checks with the police. The manager also raises awareness among schoolchildren by providing educational files and games, as well as by organizing awareness-raising actions, he recalls.
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