All high-speed traffic on the line between France and Belgium has been interrupted in both directions since shortly before 11 a.m. due to a driver of a TGV coming from France reporting that it touched a catenary cable. The cable supplies current to trains and was hanging, causing the train to come to a standstill. A team of technicians was dispatched to the scene, but passing trains on the second track was quickly abandoned as it was feared that it would aggravate the impact on the damaged catenary. Infrabel, the manager of infrastructure, was unable to estimate the time required to restore the network. The train in question, which is no longer supplied with electricity, will be towed towards Brussels-Midi. Some Thalys trains will be diverted by the classic Brussels-Tournai-Lille line.
All high-speed traffic (TGV, Thalys, Eurostar), on the line between France and Belgium, has therefore been interrupted, in both directions, since shortly before 11 a.m., indicated to Belga Infrabel, the manager of infrastructure.
“A driver of a TGV coming from France reported having touched a catenary cable – which is used to supply current to trains – which was hanging and came to a standstill”, explained Frédéric Sacré from Infrabel. “A team of technicians was dispatched to the scene. If it was for a time considered to pass the trains on the second track, the track was quickly abandoned because it is feared that it would aggravate the impact on the damaged catenary, ”he continued.
The train concerned, which is no longer supplied with electricity, will be towed towards Brussels-Midi. Some Thalys trains will be diverted by the classic Brussels-Tournai-Lille line.
Infrabel was unable to estimate the time needed to restore the network.
In conclusion, the incident involving a TGV train that touched a hanging catenary cable has led to the interruption of high-speed traffic on the line between France and Belgium. Despite efforts by technicians dispatched to the scene and considerations of passing trains on the second track, the track was quickly abandoned to avoid aggravating the damage on the catenary. Thalys trains will be diverted, while the affected train will be towed towards Brussels-Midi. Infrabel has yet to provide an estimated time for the restoration of the network.