Bpost Van Runs Red Light at Buggenhout Level Crossing

A Bpost delivery van ran a red light at a railway level crossing in Buggenhout, East Flanders, on Thursday morning, prompting an angry response from Belgian rail infrastructure manager Infrabel, which described the incident as “very sensitive” coming less than two months after a fatal school bus tragedy at another crossing in the same municipality.

The incident occurred shortly before 8:30 AM at the level crossing on Kerkstraat in Buggenhout. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, a witness observed the van driving through the red traffic lights while the barriers were still open. The barriers closed seconds later, but no train traffic was affected and no injuries were reported.

Context of Heightened Sensitivity

Infrabel spokesperson Frédéric Petit confirmed the violation and expressed frustration at the continued disregard for safety rules. “This is another example of how it should not and cannot be done,” Petit said. “That’s why we again call on everyone to respect the rules and stop at red lights.”

Petit emphasized that the incident carries particular weight in Buggenhout, where on May 26, 2026, a school bus operated by ‘t Ros Beiaard was struck by a train traveling at 90 km/h at the Vierhuizen level crossing. The VRT NWS reported that four people died in that crash — two children aged 12 and 15, a 27-year-old group supervisor, and the 49-year-old bus driver — while five others were seriously injured.

“Especially in Buggenhout, this is currently very sensitive after the serious accident,” Petit said. “The only thing we can do is keep repeating that this is life-threatening and that everyone must respect the rules. We cannot repeat that message enough.”

Bpost Responds

Bpost spokesperson Veerle Van Mierlo stated that the company is investigating the incident. “We are now looking into who the driver was at the time of the incident and we will of course speak to him about it and look at what the circumstances were,” Van Mierlo said.

She added that Bpost expects all its drivers to follow the traffic code. “It is of course the intention that all our drivers follow the traffic code and this is not the way we want to offer our services to people. We will therefore take appropriate measures.”

A Troubling Pattern

Thursday’s incident is not an isolated event. Just three days after the May 26 tragedy, during a live broadcast by regional TV station TV Oost at the same Vierhuizen crossing, two car drivers were seen running the red light. SpoorPro also reported that another bus from the same company may have run a red light at the crossing days after the tragedy, though Infrabel later stated it could not confirm this violation from camera footage.

The repeated violations highlight a broader problem of driver behavior at level crossings in Belgium, which has approximately 1,700 level crossings on its railway network managed by Infrabel. According to Infrabel, the number of level crossings has been reduced by 451 since 2005 through closures and replacements, but safety remains a persistent concern.

Analysis and Implications

The Bpost incident raises significant questions about corporate accountability and road safety culture. As Belgium’s national postal service with a large fleet of delivery vehicles, Bpost faces scrutiny over driver training and safety protocols. The company’s promise to investigate and take “appropriate measures” will be closely watched by both regulators and the public.

For Infrabel, the incident provides further ammunition in its campaign for level crossing safety. Knack magazine noted in its analysis following the May tragedy that “the ideal level crossing is the one that does not exist,” reflecting ongoing debate about whether Belgium should accelerate the closure or upgrade of its remaining crossings.

The May school bus tragedy sparked intense public debate about level crossing safety, school bus regulation, and driver background checks. Political calls were made for accelerated closure or better protection of level crossings. The Bpost incident is likely to renew those calls, with potential implications for stricter penalties for level crossing violations, including possible automatic camera enforcement.

What’s Next

Bpost is expected to complete its internal investigation in the coming days, which will determine what disciplinary measures, if any, are taken against the driver. The incident may also prompt the company to review its driver training and safety protocols across its entire fleet.

For Infrabel and local authorities, the question remains whether additional safety measures — such as cameras, improved warning systems, or physical barriers — will be installed at the Kerkstraat crossing and other vulnerable locations in Buggenhout. The community, still grieving from the May tragedy, will be watching closely.