Motorist drives three kilometres on pre-metro lines

“We have an agreement with our insurance agency; anyone who holds up transport has to pay compensation,” said spokesperson Guy Sablon. “How much exactly depends on the duration of the problem and the type of transport involved.”

Tram services were brought to a standstill on three lines for several hours when the driver, 67-year-old Francis L of Keerbergen, drove into the pre-metro tunnel near the Albert station in Vorst

“I was just following my GPS” he told Het Laatste Nieuws. “It was dark and rainy, and I don't know Brussels very well.” He also pointed out that the tram tracks are incorporated in the ground at first, so he didn't notice he was on them until it was too late.

Francis L eventually passed through four stations to finally run aground in South Station. He subsequently failed an alcohol breath test.

Motorists occasionally enter a tram tunnel by mistake, said Sablon, but can usually exit quickly. “This is the first time we’ve seen anything like this.”

The car had to be removed by a special tow vehicle intended for trams, and traffic on lines 3, 4 and 51 was suspended. An inspection team checked the section of the network concerned to ensure that the Range Rover had not caused damage to the tracks or other installations. The driver will be billed for the entire operation.

“It’s fortunate that the car didn’t come across a tram on its way,” Sablon said. “Luckily, nobody was hurt.”

Photo: Bastien Nguyen/Twitter

This article was updated on 2 March