Passenger train hits derailed Infrabel work train in Ternat, no injuries reported

The collision

Around 16:30 on Wednesday, 4 November, a passenger train heading toward Aalst collided with a derailed train near Ternat in Flemish Brabant. Infrabel spokesperson Thomas Baeken said the passenger train was passing in the opposite direction at the moment the derailment happened. The last carriage of the passenger train was struck, and the train moved on for a short distance before stopping again. The two trains had been crossing each other when the incident occurred.

What the derailed train was

Reports differ on the type of train that left the rails. Infrabel and most outlets describe a work train, while 7sur7 describes a freight train that had partly derailed before the passenger train could avoid it. The collision was reported between Ternat and Liedekerke. Sources give no detail yet on the extent of the material damage.

Passengers and injuries

About 70 people were on the passenger train, according to VRT NWS and De Morgen, and none of them was reported injured. Le Soir said at the time of its report that it was not yet known whether anyone had been hurt, and that the train had stopped and its passengers had been evacuated. De Morgen reported that passengers were still in the carriages in Essene-Lombeek, waiting for further help and evacuation. 7sur7 also described passengers stuck on board and waiting for rescuers.

Rail disruption and replacement transport

Rail traffic on the Jette to Denderleeuw line has been interrupted in both directions. The NMBS (SNCB) has set up replacement buses and advises travellers to follow station announcements or check its app or website before departing. Technical teams from Infrabel and NMBS were on site to assess the situation. Sources do not yet give a date for the line to reopen, and 7sur7 said the full length of the disruption was still awaited.