Train Traffic Resumes Between Vilvoorde and Mechelen After Fire

Vilvoorde – Train services between Vilvoorde and Mechelen resumed at 9 p.m. following a major disruption caused by a fire at a nearby waste processing facility situated close to the railway tracks.

Train service was temporarily suspended after a fire broke out along the railway line at trash processing company Renewi. Although trains are now running, delays may still be experienced through tomorrow morning.

Frédéric Petit, a spokesperson for Infrabel, commented,

“It concerns a fire in a waste processing company in Vilvoorde.”

The fire ignited at the Renewi site on Mechelsesteenweg when a load of waste materials caught fire.

“A combination of construction waste and residual waste has caught fire,”

explained Vilvoorde Mayor Jo De Ro (Open VLD).

“So it mainly concerns household, garden, and kitchen waste, but we do not know exactly what is in the bags. That is why we certainly want to play it safe.”

The local fire brigade responded quickly.

“The fire is both inside and outside a hangar,” said Wouter Jeanfils from the emergency services zone Flemish Brabant West.

“The fire is under control and will not spread, but we still expect that we will have to extinguish it for a few more hours before it is completely resolved.”

One person suffered smoke inhalation and is currently recovering from respiratory difficulties.

“The fire brigade has asked us to interrupt train traffic because of the smoke caused by the fire,”

according to NMBS. The incident rendered four tracks between Mechelen and Vilvoorde unusable starting at 4:25 p.m.

With clearance from the fire department, train service between Vilvoorde and Mechelen resumed at 9 p.m. While some delays may continue into the night, NMBS expects train operations to return to normal by tomorrow morning.

Residents living nearby were advised via a BE-Alert notification to keep windows and doors closed and turn off ventilation systems to avoid odor problems, according to Mayor De Ro.

What safety measures are being taken to prevent future disruptions?

To minimize the risk of future incidents, authorities are emphasizing the need to identify and manage potential hazards near the railways and adjacent industrial sites.

This includes implementing safeguards to protect railway infrastructure from external threats and ensuring that neighboring facilities are equipped with fire prevention systems such as sprinklers and alarms.

Routine inspections of electrical systems, cabling, and trackside infrastructure are also crucial for early detection and resolution of issues that could otherwise escalate into larger service disruptions.

Additionally, coordinated communication channels between rail operators, emergency services, and nearby businesses are essential to respond swiftly and reduce downtime in the event of an emergency.