Trains severely delayed after Brussels North fire

Trains through Brussels were severely delayed on Tuesday - and some services will continue to be affected on Wednesday - after a lineside fire in an electricity box outside North Station.

The fire broke out at about 6.30 on Tuesday morning, prompting a power cut. No trains ran between North and Midi stations for an hour and half, in the height of the morning rush hour.

Many trains had to terminate at other Brussels stations such as Schuman, Luxembourg and West Station.

Services through the city centre gradually resumed at about 8.00 but with speed restrictions, causing long delays through the north-south junction.

According to rail infrastructure firm Infrabel, the fire started in a small shelter beside the railway line, being used by a homeless person. It then spread to the railway electrical equipment. No one was injured.

Rush-hour "P" trains through Brussels on Wednesday morning are cancelled. No trains will run either on S4 (Vilvoorde-Brussels-Aalst) and S10 (Aalst-Brussels-Dendermonde). Some trains between North Station and Brussels Airport are also not running.

Photo: Brussels Fire Brigade