Belgium crash sees Eurostar services suspended

Services suspended

After Monday's horrific train crash in Belgium that killed 18 passengers, Eurostar has stated that services between the UK and Brussels will be suspended until next week while investigations continue.

The cause of the crash, that also injured 150 people, is still not known, but the incident at Halle, near Brussels, saw two trains collide during rush hour, forcing front carriages into the air taking down nearby power cables. It is thought one train may have missed a stop sign.

Since the accident, Eurostar has opted to run a reduced timetable with its services running between the UK and France, with any services in the area of the accident completely suspended.

The company stated that any passengers planning to travel from London to Brussels were "strongly advised to postpone or cancel their journeys" and that passengers could exchange their tickets or get a refund.

It has also been reported that the Thalys services to France, Germany and the Netherlands are also being affected.

The services from Brussels to Cologne resumed on Wednesday, but the high-speed Amsterdam service remained suspended and there were a "handful" of trains travelling to and from Paris, according to a Thalys spokeswoman.

The Halle crash

The crash at Halle was at the point where commuter and high-speed lines meet, preventing Eurostar and other train companies from being able to operate in the area.

One train had been going from Leuven to Braine-le-Comte, while the second train had been travelling from Quievrain to Liege.

The crashed trains may not be completely removed from the tracks for two or three days while crash scene investigators continue their work. 55 commuters were seriously injured while a further 89 people sustained minor injuries.

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