Rail services between the West Flemish towns of Ieper and Poperinge were suspended on Monday evening after two cars were involved in a collision on a level crossing in the village of Vlamertinge. The driver of one of the vehicles that was involved in the accident called the 1711 rail emergency number straight away and an oncoming train was able to brake in time.
A call to the 1711 emergency number enables rail traffic controllers and the infrastructure management company Infrabel to act in order to stop a train in time.
The 60-year-old motorist that made the call told VRT News that “On the back of the sign where the traffic light is there is the number of the railway line and the number of the level crossing. If I hadn’t called the train would have hit the car”. The occupants of both cars that were involved in the crash were able to exit their vehicles in time and no one was injured.
“A few minutes after I called, I saw a train approaching. I suspect the train driver had been informed as he was driving slowly. The train came to a halt at a safe distance”.
The man was aware of the 1711 emergency number as he follows the news and was aware of a recent accident involving a train and a bus on a level crossing in Veldegem (also West Flanders)."It is good that the reports mentioned the numbers that are listed on the signs”.
Trains have been running again on the line since 5am on Tuesday morning. Infrabel's Frederic Petit told VRT News that “The car was first towed away from the track, after which our technical team checked the track and made repairs where necessary”.