The Flemish public transport company De Lijn has lodged a complaint with Antwerp Police against an as yet unidentified young man. The man features in a video that has been posted on social media in which he is shown hanging onto the back of a moving tram in the Kiel area of Antwerp.
Train surfing or in this case tram surfing is a highly dangerous activity that is most prevalent in big cities in Brazil and South Africa and far less common here in Europe. In the incident featured in the video, a man climbs onto the back of a number 4 tram and hangs onto it as it drives on. The police still have no clue as to the tram surfer’s identity.It is also still unclear when exactly the incident took place.
In a statement De Lijn says that it strongly condemns the tram surfer’s actions. “We are still trying to find out the details, but in any case, we are filing a complaint against persons unknown”, De Lijn’s Frederik Wittock told VRT News. Together with the police, the transport company is now looking at whether any further information can be found to help identify the man.
“Travelling on a tram in this way is highly dangerous. It’s not only dangerous for the person concerned, but also for the tram driver and the passengers. What if the driver had to make a sudden, brisk maneuver? The passengers might also panic and this could distract the driver”.
De Lijn adds that activities of this nature are also dangerous for those passing by on foot, in a car or on a bicycle. “Their attention is distracted from other traffic. This is dangerous for everyone and absolutely reprehensible behaviour. Unfortunately, this is not the first time, but we want to put a stop to this in so far as we can”.