Train services were suspended for an hour this morning in East Flanders after a wallaby was spotted next to the tracks. The animal has since been returned to its owner.
Home News
Trains brought to a halt by wallaby
Published:
The rail network operator received a report of a wallaby on the tracks in Eine, near Oudenaarde, at around 9.00. At the request of the police, services between Eine and Oudenaarde were suspended in both directions.
A volunteer from animal organisation SOS Wilde Dieren in Geraardsbergen managed to catch the wallaby with a net and it is now back with its owner.
Transport has also resumed. “The disruption wasn’t massive, but train services were halted for about an hour. There was disruption to the regional rail line,” says Infrabel spokesperson Thomas Baeken.
A wallaby on the tracks is not an everyday occurrence
Animals do often wander onto the tracks, causing delays. According to Baeken, however, a wallaby is a unique occurrence. “It’s usually dogs, horses or cows,” he says. “A wallaby on the tracks is not an everyday occurrence. I haven’t come across that in the 15 years I’ve been working at Infrabel.”
Infrabel is urging people to keep a close eye on animals in their gardens to ensure they cannot escape. “This prevents the animal from being hit by a train and ensures trains run on time,” says Baeken.