Vorst ( Brussels Morning): A sad event that took place in Vorst on January 2 in the night a sixteen-year-old girl was knocked by a passing train. The collision took place at around 11:40 PM close to the Vorst station, which caused the instant death of the teenager. The victim was thrown off by an Intercity service that operates from Antwerp to Charleroi station.
An underage girl died last night at the Vorst-Zuid train station after being hit by a train. To explain the reasons behind the situation, the governments have opened an inquiry. Consequently, train services could only run for a while, and the services resumed the following morning.
Investigation is underway as train services are disrupted
From the statements made by the Belgian Federal Railway Police, the distinct factors of the accident are yet to be determined; specific investigations entail as to whether the girl was on the tracks intentionally or by accident. The accident involved an Intercity train, which, as usual, was carrying passengers at the time of the crash. About 40 passengers on the train had to be relocated, and the rest were provided with replacement buses for other stations. This has affected the transport system in the region since it halted the train services between Brussels-South and Nivelles. However, by 6:At 30 AM, the tracks were cleared, and normal operations resumed.
The prosecutor’s office has not denied that the above tragedy was rather true but has not shed any more light on the issue with an understanding that the bereaved family could need space. They also observed that there was no other person around the girl when the accident happened. The probe is also likely to uncover if there was negligence in the implementation of the railway crossing measures that perhaps instigated the unfortunate incident.
Ongoing concerns about railway safety and previous incidents
The accident mainly underlines the present-day problem of safety on rail tracks, especially those crossing populated regions. The railway system of the Belgian nation can be described as rather efficient; however, there have been numerous problems in the area of the railway’s safety for pedestrians and passengers. There have been concerns in the recent past regarding safety, including better signs, barriers along tracks, and surveillance improvements around the endangered crossroads.
Pedestrian rail incidences have been frequent occurrences in Belgium, and the present event underlines the need for change in infrastructure and public consciousness of rails. The problem has been causing concern to authorities, and several measures have been taken all over the country to enhance the security of railway stations as well as crossings. However, these steps have not always proven useful in averting an accident, most of the time involving pedestrians.
To address such concerns, the Belgian government and railway management franchises have considered measures to improve reaching out to the public on the risks involved in any railway crossing and have urged that there be stiffer sanctions for those who contravene the laid-down safety regulations. This has also been augmented with appeals for redesigning the old rail transport network, which is comparatively more dangerous as the system may be old or may lack enough protective measures.
The accident that claimed the life of a 16-year-old girl in Vorst reminds us that it is still possible to occur, and the probe into the cause of this accident may shed more light on how Belgium railway is going to be fashioned to prevent pedestrian deaths in future. Democratic pressure, together with political pressure, is expected to grow for larger alterations to be sufficient to stop similar tragedies.
