SNCB and coastal resorts reach agreement to limit crowds

The SNCB has agreed to run fewer trains to the coast for the rest of the summer, after negotiations between the rail operator, coastal mayors and the governor of West Flanders.

The agreement comes after tensions on the coast in recent weeks, including overcrowding at Ostend station caused by a broken-down train, and clashes between young people and police on Blankenberge beach last weekend.

Each of Belgium's 10 coastal municipalities will set a limit on day-trippers. This coming weekend, Ostend will allow 10,000 people, Blankenberge 6,000 and Zeebrugge 4,000.

De Panne has set a maximum of 2,000 visitors per day - as has Knokke-Heist, which will lift its ban on day-trippers from this Wednesday.

The SNCB has pledged that the occupancy level of each train to the coast will not exceed 80%. The rail operator will send real-time alerts to passengers to avoid overcrowding, and local police will be called in to assist at rail stations on busy days.

An SNCB spokesman said: "This coming weekend, we will run a limited number of trains to the coast. There will be fewer than the previous weekend. All the details will be announced on Friday morning.

"If a train has reached 80% occupancy, passengers waiting to board at the next station will have to wait and board another train."

The measures will be evaluated again next Monday and could be renewed for the rest of the summer.

Passengers' association TreinTramBus has criticised the plan to cancel extra trains to the coast, noting that the SNCB "did not have the slightest responsibility for the violence last Saturday in Blankenberge".

Association president Stefan Stynen said: "It is absurd to ban additional trains to the coast, which allow passengers to be more evenly distributed. By the way, it's not just tourists on these trains, but also local residents and workers.

"This stigmatisation of public transport must end. Last weekend, three quarters of people heading to the coast went by carn, but oddly, that doesn't seem like a problem."

Two police unions have called for tougher checks on people visiting the coast. SLFP vice-president Vincent Houssin said: "At a music festival, you can't enter with loudspeakers and a fridge box full of alcoholic drinks. It should be the same on the beach.

"Some call it ethnic profiling. But in reality, we identify the troublemakers, or people known to the police, and those who arrive in large groups. As if by chance, they are from Brussels."

Carlo Medo, from the NSPV-SNPS union, described those responsible for Saturday's brawl as "scum from Brussels". He said: "Officers are very angry. Violence against the police must be taken head-on."

Meanwhile, Ostend has again made reservations compulsory this weekend (15-16 August) on its three most popular beaches, Klein Strand, Groeistrand and Groot Strand. Some 15,000 slots per day are available on a first-come first-served basis via www.visitoostende.be.

Photo: Nicolas Maeterlinck/Belga