Laeken, Brussels — In a harrowing incident early Thursday morning, two 19-year-old men lost their lives after being electrocuted while climbing an overhead railway line in Laeken.
The tragic event unfolded around 04:00 between Bockstael and Jette stations, leaving one man dead at the scene and another falling onto the tracks below. Emergency services arrived promptly but were unable to save the victims.
The incident occurred when the two young men, accompanied by three others, attempted to scale the overhead line. Both men were electrocuted, with one of them falling onto the tracks. A third individual in their group sustained minor injuries.
The authorities and emergency services, including Infrabel—the Belgian railway infrastructure operator—responded swiftly to the scene.
Thomas Baeken, spokesperson for Infrabel, expressed condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. “Our condolences go out to the family of the deceased,” Baeken told The Brussels Times.
He emphasized the severe consequences of trespassing on private railway property, stating, “We would again like to call on people not to trespass on private domain. It is illegal and can have very severe consequences.”
Despite the severity of the incident, the damage was limited to the overhead line, which sustained only minor damage. The railway infrastructure and train schedules remained unaffected, minimizing the disruption to services.
The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns on Belgian railway lines. Infrabel has been actively addressing these concerns with a safety action plan launched in February.
This plan includes infrastructural changes designed to prevent similar accidents. In response to the Laeken incident, Infrabel is considering the installation of CCTV cameras in the area, known as a “hotspot” for trespassers.
Additionally, the company plans to repair a broken fence in the vicinity to further deter illegal activities.
In 2023, Belgian railway lines experienced 36 accidents, resulting in six fatalities. This represents a decrease from 45 accidents in 2019, highlighting ongoing efforts to improve safety. Infrabel’s safety measures aim to reduce such incidents and protect both railway infrastructure and individuals.
An uncle of one of the deceased, speaking to VRT radio, revealed that such dangerous behavior had been observed before in the neighborhood.
“Others in the neighborhood have done this before. I think it was the first time [one of my relatives] did it. The first and the last time. This is a bit of a dare among young people in the neighborhood,” he said.
The Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office is conducting a further investigation into the incident. Yasmina Vanoverschelde, spokesperson for the office, indicated that initial findings point to a tragic accident. “Initial findings suggest that this was a tragic accident,” Vanoverschelde stated in a press release.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic loss and preventing future occurrences on Belgium’s railway lines.
