Metro services on Brussels lines 2 and 6 were suspended for several hours on Friday after an unidentified person accessed the tracks between Gare de l’Ouest and Trône stations shortly after 10:00. STIB security staff and federal police evacuated platforms and conducted a sweep before clearing the line mid-afternoon. No injuries were reported. (brusselstimes.com)
The shutdown affected the orbital route that circles Brussels’ inner city—one of the most heavily used sections of the network for commuters travelling between EU institutions, major law firms around Louise and the emerging tech hub at Tour & Taxis. Several multinational employers triggered emergency mobility protocols, reimbursing taxis and activating work-from-home options for affected staff.
If last-minute travel changes leave international staff scrambling for documentation, VisaHQ can help. Our Belgium desk (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) streamlines Schengen visa applications, passport renewals and residence-permit extensions, so companies and travelers have one less headache when disruptions hit public transport.
![Intrusion on the tracks shuts Brussels Metro lines 2 and 6, prompting security review]()
While intrusions are rare, the incident raises questions about perimeter security just months before Brussels introduces platform-screen doors on new metro 3 stations. STIB said preliminary footage suggests the trespasser entered via an emergency exit, and promised to audit all such access points. Corporate security managers may wish to remind mobile workers to register for STIB’s real-time alert app, which pushed notifications 90 seconds after the suspension began.
From a compliance perspective, employers should note that Belgium’s mobility budget legislation allows reimbursement of alternative transport, including ride-hailing, when public transport is unexpectedly unavailable. HR teams can process Friday’s expenses under the ‘unforeseen disruption’ clause without triggering taxable benefit issues.
Full service resumed shortly after 14:30, but residual delays continued into the evening peak. STIB advises passengers to allow extra travel time throughout the weekend as trainsets are repositioned. (brusselstimes.com)
The shutdown affected the orbital route that circles Brussels’ inner city—one of the most heavily used sections of the network for commuters travelling between EU institutions, major law firms around Louise and the emerging tech hub at Tour & Taxis. Several multinational employers triggered emergency mobility protocols, reimbursing taxis and activating work-from-home options for affected staff.
If last-minute travel changes leave international staff scrambling for documentation, VisaHQ can help. Our Belgium desk (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) streamlines Schengen visa applications, passport renewals and residence-permit extensions, so companies and travelers have one less headache when disruptions hit public transport.
While intrusions are rare, the incident raises questions about perimeter security just months before Brussels introduces platform-screen doors on new metro 3 stations. STIB said preliminary footage suggests the trespasser entered via an emergency exit, and promised to audit all such access points. Corporate security managers may wish to remind mobile workers to register for STIB’s real-time alert app, which pushed notifications 90 seconds after the suspension began.
From a compliance perspective, employers should note that Belgium’s mobility budget legislation allows reimbursement of alternative transport, including ride-hailing, when public transport is unexpectedly unavailable. HR teams can process Friday’s expenses under the ‘unforeseen disruption’ clause without triggering taxable benefit issues.
Full service resumed shortly after 14:30, but residual delays continued into the evening peak. STIB advises passengers to allow extra travel time throughout the weekend as trainsets are repositioned. (brusselstimes.com)
