Rail infrastructure manager launches Brussels project against trespassers on the tracks
In 2025, trespassers on the tracks in Belgium caused an average of 4.5 hours of delays per day, and nine people died as a result of trespassing. It is a particularly serious problem in Brussels: 55 cases were recorded on the busy North-South connection in the capital. Belgian rail infrastructure manager Infrabel is therefore launching a pilot project at Brussels-North station.
Last year, there were 583 reports of trespassers on the tracks, Infrabel announced at a press conference on Thursday. Trespassing on the tracks is the biggest external cause of rail delays and is particularly a problem during the evening rush hour and in Brussels. It is also extremely dangerous: in 2025, nine trespassers died and three others were seriously injured.
Infrabel today presented a pilot project to prevent people from entering the tracks from the platforms. It is no coincidence that this is being rolled out at Brussels-North station. No fewer than 19 reports of trespassers were recorded there in 2025. There were 18 reports at Brussels-South and 15 at Brussels-Central.
The pilot project is rolled out on tracks 1 and 12, as well as on the platform between tracks 8 and 9, which is longer than the others. On the one hand, barriers and trip mats have been installed. On the other hand, there is also a virtual barrier using cameras with intrusion detection that automatically send an alarm to a control room. The project involves an investment of 75,000 euros.
There are also severe penalties for trespassing on the tracks. Anyone caught can be fined 300 euros. Anyone caught a second time must pay 500 euros.
Illustration © PHOTO IMAGEBROKER
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