Four people have been killed in Belgium after a school minibus collided with a passenger train at a level crossing. British rail safety investigators have been called in to assist with the inquiry, officials confirmed today.
The crash occurred near the town of Tienen, Flemish Brabant, around 40 kilometres east of Brussels. The minibus, carrying children and staff from a local school, was struck by a train operated by the national rail company NMBS. Three children and the minibus driver died at the scene. Eight other passengers were injured, three of them critically.
Emergency services arrived within minutes. Helicopters airlifted the most serious casualties to hospitals in Leuven and Brussels. The train driver was treated for shock. The level crossing barriers were down at the time, according to initial reports.
Belgium’s federal prosecutor has opened a criminal investigation. The UK’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been invited to provide expertise. A four-strong team flew to Brussels this morning. They will work alongside Belgian counterparts to examine the crossing’s design, the train’s data recorder and the minibus’s condition.
The response from Britain is not unusual. The RAIB has a strong international reputation. It has previously assisted in inquiries in France, the Netherlands and Switzerland. A spokesperson said: “We stand ready to support our Belgian colleagues with technical analysis and recommendations.”
Level crossing safety is a long-standing concern on both sides of the Channel. In Britain, 184 people have died at level crossings in the past decade. The worst recent disaster was in 2017, when a car was hit by a train at a user-worked crossing in Suffolk, killing three. Campaigners have repeatedly called for more funding to upgrade crossings, especially on rural routes where automatic barriers are absent.
The Belgian crossing had full barriers and warning lights. Why the minibus entered the crossing is the central question. Human error, mechanical failure and signal malfunction are all being considered. The road layout near the crossing is also under scrutiny.
The school has not been named. A crisis team is supporting pupils, staff and families. The Belgian education minister described the crash as “a tragedy that shakes the entire nation”. The local mayor said: “We are devastated. Our thoughts are with the families.”
Trains on the line between Leuven and Tienen remain suspended. The wreckage has been removed. Investigators expect to spend several weeks at the site. A preliminary report is due within a month.
For the families waiting at hospitals, the wait will feel much longer. One parent told Belgian television: “They just said to wait. No one tells us anything.”
