Tractor and Train Collide at Hasselt Level Crossing

A passenger train collided with a tractor that had stalled on the railway tracks at a level crossing in Kermt, a sub-municipality of Hasselt in Belgium’s Limburg province, on Friday morning. The tractor driver escaped by jumping off the vehicle moments before impact, and none of the approximately 40 passengers aboard the train were injured, according to VRT NWS.

Incident Details

The collision occurred on the morning of Friday, 26 June at approximately 10:15 local time at the Spalbeekstraat level crossing in Kermt. According to initial reports, the tractor received a technical fault message and stalled on the tracks. The driver attempted to call Infrabel’s emergency number 1711 but, realizing the approaching train could not stop in time, jumped to safety just before impact.

“The passengers have been evacuated and taken to Hasselt. Water was also distributed and from there they can continue their journey,” an NMBS spokesperson told VRT NWS.

The train driver was shaken but unharmed and is receiving support from a colleague.

Damage and Disruption

The collision caused significant damage. The tractor was completely destroyed, the first carriage of the train derailed, and approximately 100 metres of track were damaged. An oil spill on the tracks further complicated the cleanup operation, as reported by Het Laatste Nieuws.

Rail traffic between Hasselt and Diest was suspended in both directions, causing major disruption to regional commuter services. Trains from Hasselt were rerouted where possible, and passengers were advised to use De Lijn replacement buses with their train tickets.

“It will take a while before the level crossing is clear again. We are arranging a diversion,” said Dorien Baens of Police LRH, as quoted by TVL.

Track repairs are scheduled to take place overnight Friday and through Saturday morning, meaning the disruption is expected to continue through the weekend.

Emergency Response

Fire brigade, police, and Infrabel teams responded to the scene. The approximately 40 passengers were evacuated to a nearby sports hall where they received water before being transported onward by replacement buses. Police LRH deployed a drone to map the accident scene, enabling investigators to assess the situation from above.

A traffic expert will examine the circumstances of the accident, and the cause remains under investigation.

Broader Context: Level Crossing Safety in Belgium

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about level crossing safety in Belgium, which has a dense railway network managed by Infrabel with 1,621 level crossings. The tractor driver’s attempt to call the 1711 emergency hotline — a dedicated number operated by Infrabel for reporting incidents at level crossings — demonstrates awareness of safety protocols, though the short timeframe prevented a successful intervention.

Belgium has experienced several serious level crossing accidents in recent years, including a fatal collision in Buggenhout earlier in 2026 where four people died, and another in Herne with three fatalities. Infrabel regularly conducts awareness campaigns targeting professional drivers about the dangers at level crossings, particularly in harbour areas where more than one in three accidents occur.

Potential Heatwave Factor

The incident occurred during a severe heatwave affecting Belgium. The KMI (Royal Meteorological Institute) had issued code red warnings for Limburg and Liège provinces, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 41°C. While investigators have not confirmed a link, the extreme heat may have contributed to the tractor’s technical malfunction, raising broader questions about vehicle reliability during extreme weather events.

What’s Next

Investigators will focus on determining the specific technical failure that caused the tractor to stall on the tracks, whether the level crossing warning systems were functioning correctly, and whether the extreme heat played a role. The train’s speed at the time of impact will also be examined.

Infrabel teams will work through the night to repair the damaged tracks, with services expected to resume gradually over the weekend. The incident serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of level crossings when vehicles experience mechanical failure while on the tracks, and the critical importance of emergency protocols such as the 1711 hotline.