Freight train’s locked brake sparked four trackside fires near Ghent
A freight train with a locked brake sparked four trackside fires between Ghent-Dampoort and Lokeren on 13 August, briefly halting traffic on the Ghent-Antwerp rail corridor before firefighters extinguished the flames.
In 30 seconds
- A locked brake on one freight train generated the sparks.
- Four fires broke out between Ghent-Dampoort and Lokeren.
- The largest outbreak was in Destelbergen; smaller fires occurred near Beervelde.
- Rail traffic stopped for about 45 minutes before the line reopened.
Updated 27 August 2026 — A freight train sparked four fires beside the railway between -Dampoort and Lokeren on Thursday afternoon, 13 August, after a brake remained pressed against a metal wheel. Firefighters extinguished the flames, and Infrabel reopened the line after a suspension lasting about 45 minutes.
Infrabel spokesperson Thomas Baeken told Het Nieuwsblad that trains stopped shortly before 14:00 and began running again shortly after 14:30. The largest fire developed in Destelbergen, while several smaller outbreaks occurred around Beervelde. No injuries were reported in the accounts reviewed by Belgium Pulse.
According to De Morgen and Het Nieuwsblad, friction between the locked brake and the wheel produced a trail of sparks. Dry vegetation beside the railway then ignited at several points as the freight train continued along the route. The reporting does not identify the freight operator, the train’s cargo or the precise locations of all four outbreaks.
The incident shows how a single mechanical defect can create several emergencies across one railway corridor. Firefighters need safe access to the track, while Infrabel must stop or restrict trains until crews have suppressed the fire and checked the infrastructure. The immediate consequence for passengers was a short interruption on the busy connection between Ghent and .
Trackside fires caused by train sparks are not new. In a 2011 parliamentary answer, the federal mobility minister said fires between Aarschot and Diest had similarly followed sparks from a freight train’s jammed brake, with a dry spring leaving railway verges particularly combustible. Infrabel’s public material also explains that it manages train movements and railway infrastructure, while rolling-stock condition remains tied to the operators using the network.
The broader issue is prevention during extended dry periods. Vegetation management limits available fuel, but it does not remove the source of sparks from a defective brake. Operators therefore rely on rolling-stock inspections and alerts from railway staff, train drivers or people near the line to stop a faulty train quickly.
Where this is happening
View on map East Flanders →Infrabel has not publicly detailed any damage to signalling, cables or rails from the August fires. The outstanding questions are whether the freight operator has completed a technical investigation, why the brake locked and whether the episode will produce additional inspections or operating measures during dry weather.
What to do
The affected line reopened after roughly 45 minutes, so the article identifies no continuing restriction requiring passengers to change future journeys. Anyone caught in the disruption should retain tickets and check the SNCB/NMBS journey planner or customer-service channels for the status of their specific service and any applicable passenger-rights claim. Freight customers cannot yet determine whether their shipment was involved because the operator and cargo remain unidentified. The next facts to watch are identification of the operator and any finding on why the brake remained locked.
Impact
Regional — Passenger services between Ghent and Antwerp stopped for about 45 minutes, directly affecting travellers using Ghent-Dampoort, Beervelde, Lokeren and connecting stations.
EvidenceWell established · 1 primary source + 2 official documents + 1 independent reporting sourceExplore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
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- 27 Aug 2026, 02:00
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- 27 Aug 2026
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- 13 Aug 2026, 02:00
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- 27 Aug 2026
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- 27 Apr 2011, 02:00
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- 27 Aug 2026
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- 27 Aug 2026
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What the main actors are doing
Reported positions, summarised — not direct quotationsRail infrastructure perspective
Infrabel’s immediate priority is to stop traffic, give emergency crews safe access and inspect the railway before reopening it. Its spokesperson attributed the fires to sparks produced by a freight train’s locked brake.
Rolling-stock responsibility
The unidentified freight operator controls the train and its maintenance, but no public technical report currently establishes why the brake remained engaged or whether an inspection should have detected the defect earlier.
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