Brussels metro doors to become safer

Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (Stib) is fitting 1,500 doors on its fleet of older metro cars with a sensitive detection system in order to reduce the number of accidents involving the doors, reports FM Brussel.

The doors of the orange metro cars currently only detect whether the doors are open or closed, but not when there is something between them. This has resulted in a number of accidents, including one traumatic accident in 2006, when a woman was killed after her coat got caught between the doors.

The doors will be equipped with a new detection system that automatically re-open the doors should something comes between them. Installation of the system is expected to cost €3 million.

The newer fleet of metros already has such a detection system in place.