INVESTIGATORS probing Monday’s accident involving two commuter trains near Brussels, in which at least 18 people died, have revealed that the collision was ‘lateral’, rather than fully head-on. They are waiting to question the driver of one of the trains, who reportedly left his cab moments before the crash. He is recovering in hospital from serious injuries. More than 50 passengers were also hurt.

It’s understood that one of the drivers had passed a red signal, and SNCB is also reported to have admitted that the train was not protected by an automatic system. Railway staff in southern Belgium have been staging protest strikes since the accident near Halle during the Monday morning rush hour.

Belgian domestic services are continuing to be disrupted by the walkouts as well as the blockage of the line, and once again there will be no Eurostar services between London and Brussels today (Wednesday). Eurostar is running as far as Lille, and Paris services should be normal.

A large area around the crash site has been sealed off by crash investigators, including the adjacent High Speed lines. Work is continuing today on examining the wreckage, but it is not yet clear when the line, 15km south west of Brussels, will be reopened.