The traffic embarrassments also had unexpected consequences: the match between Club Bruges and AA Gent, which was to start at 4:00 p.m., was delayed by 15 minutes.
Blocked train and passengers evacuated
But for other travelers en route to the coast, the journey has literally turned into a nightmare. Around 11:30 am, a train was immobilized at Affligem (Flemish Brabant) due to technical problems accompanied by a smoke clearance. Nearly a thousand passengers had to be evacuated at the police request. About seven of them were unwell and were taken care of on the spot by the emergency services, the SNCB said.
“Due to the heat, the emergency services were requested as a preventive basis“Said a spokesperson. It was only around 2:50 p.m. that the train could be removed and the lane released, causing significant disruptions on the network.
The city of Ostend assault
Many Internet users have not hesitated to share photos of terraces and beach bars displaying “complete”, in Knokke-Heist. On the French side, even Bray-Dunes beach, on the verge of breakdown, was black in people. “Looking for parking space, thank you in advance”, Could we even read on the Facebook page “Bray-Dunes Passion”.
Technical problems, smoke clearance and several discomfort: a thousand passengers evacuated from a train towards the coast this Thursday (photos)
In Ostend, the craze was such that a temporary closure of the city center was decided shortly before 4 p.m. “There is no more room for someone else“Said the spokesperson for the local police, Simon Proud. A deviation was proposed to the Vurkruisenplein, near the Mercator.”From there, everything will be closed to ensure the passage of emergency services “a précisé le Flemish traffic center.
But this measure was quickly lifted, for fear that traffic would be diverted to Mariakerke, where a cycling race was held that same day.
While the coastal hotels record an average attendance of 85 % for this long weekend, visitors will still be able to enjoy a summer time this Friday, with a generous sun and temperatures flirting with the 20 degrees … before the arrival of clouds and possible showers for this weekend.
