Belgian rail infrastructure manager Infrabel has unveiled a new pilot project at Brussels-North Railway Station aimed at tackling the persistent and dangerous problem of track trespassing, particularly in the capital.
Despite a slight decline in incidents – from 646 in 2024 to 583 in 2025 – trespassing remains the leading external cause of rail delays in Belgium. Last year alone, it resulted in an average of 4.5 hours of delays per day. The safety risks are severe: nine people lost their lives and three others were seriously injured in 2025.
The issue is especially acute in Brussels, where busy stations such as Brussels-North station, Brussels-South Railway Station, and Brussels-Central Railway Station recorded some of the highest numbers of incidents. In total, 55 cases were reported on the capital’s crucial North–South rail connection.
To address this, Infrabel has invested €75,000 in a pilot scheme combining physical and technological measures. At selected platforms in Brussels-North, barriers and trip mats have been installed to deter access to the tracks, alongside a ‘virtual barrier’ system using cameras with intrusion detection that automatically alert control rooms.
The urgency of the issue was highlighted by a filmed incident in which two individuals carrying a heavy suitcase crossed multiple tracks at Brussels-North. Their six-minute crossing forced a temporary halt to rail traffic, delaying 117 trains and triggering a knock-on effect of more than 15 hours of cumulative delays.
Infrabel notes that while there are 102 known trespassing hotspots across Belgium, the problem is increasingly concentrated within stations themselves. The pilot project is therefore designed not only to prevent access to the tracks but also to detect intrusions more quickly and limit disruption.
Trespassing carries strict penalties: offenders face fines of €300, rising to €500 for repeat offences.
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