New security checks at Brussels Midi and Antwerp for TGV, ICE and Thalys

[duesselmartin]

But does it make sense to fly Brussels- Paris, or to Cologne? Or even Brussels to Amsterdam?

 

[Quakkerillo]

The security checks are meant to prevent people who have done things to easily go quickly cross-border (such as the Berlin Christmas Market guy having gone by Flixbus, or the Thalys attacker who actually did it on the Thalys).

There are passengers who do fly Brussels-Paris/Cologne/Amsterdam, but these planes are only full of connecting passengers; ie Kinshasa to Amsterdam via Brussels, or as my friend did Seattle-Brussels via Amsterdam. Brussels-Amsterdam passengers will be very rare.

 

[gysev]

But get this - only for international trains! IIRC, the recent explosions on transport were at Zaventem airport - in the departure hall, so outside the baggage check area, and the other one was on the metro station in the centre of Brussel.

It doesn't seem very sensible or logical to me and I wonder if this is airline lobbying that has led to this nonsense.

These checks are indeed only for the platforms 3, 4, 5 and 6. Since 2 weeks, there are two hours per day with security-checks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Everyone who wants to go to these platforms will be checked, included passangers for domestic services! At first, traffic controllers at the signalbox received a note saying that during the checks, no platform alteration was allowed.

However: last tuesday a "high placed person" of SNCB missed his train home because of the security-checks and the following day it was ordered that no domestic services are allowed on these platforms during the checks. There is only one problem with this: some trains coming from the yards at Forest arrive up to 20 minutes before departure at the platform. Security-checks are only announced to the signalbox 5 minutes before they start, so the train could well be in the station when they start checking people...

 

[edwin_m]

These checks are indeed only for the platforms 3, 4, 5 and 6. Since 2 weeks, there are two hours per day with security-checks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Everyone who wants to go to these platforms will be checked, included passangers for domestic services! At first, traffic controllers at the signalbox received a note saying that during the checks, no platform alteration was allowed.

However: last tuesday a "high placed person" of SNCB missed his train home because of the security-checks and the following day it was ordered that no domestic services are allowed on these platforms during the checks. There is only one problem with this: some trains coming from the yards at Forest arrive up to 20 minutes before departure at the platform. Security-checks are only announced to the signalbox 5 minutes before they start, so the train could well be in the station when they start checking people...

All potential terrorists, please be aware that we expect you to travel between hours X and Y so that you will be caught by the security checks we have set up for the purpose.

 

[OwlMan]

According to todays Flanders News things are changing

http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/News/1.3028110

The high-speed rail terminals at Brussel South, Antwerp Central and Liège Guillemins are to be assigned extra security staff. Random baggage checks will be carried out and security staff will be trained in the detection of suspicious behavior. The announcement of extra investment in station security was made by the Interior Minister Jan Jambon (Flemish nationalist) and the Federal Transport Minister François Bellot (Francophone liberal).

Anyone taking a high speed train in one of the three stations will have to pass through a corridor where rail security staff will carry out random checks. "It could be of around 10% of passengers or more. It will be completely random” Hendrik Vanderkimpen of Securail told VRT News.
Those subjected to checks will be taken to a metal detector and baggage scanner.
"The machines used will be comparable to those used at airport, but here we won’t be looking for liquids or nail scissors. We will be focusing on weapons and explosives”, Mr Vanderkimpen.
The Interior Minister Jan Jambon told VRT News that the aim of the checks is that they serve as a deterrent.
"Terrorists always choose the path of least resistance and now they will know that they stand more chance of being checked if they take a high speed train”.
They will also be more targeted checks by the police in the stations.
"At Brussels South the first ten police officers have already been trained”.
"The idea is that they pass on what they have learned to their colleagues. The practice of behavior analyses will also be extended to other stations".

 

[HowardGWR]

I looked at the Thalys site and unbelievably, the checks are only 'carry-out-able' at Brussels. So if you get the same train from anywhere else, e.g. Schiphol, not!

So Mr Molenbeek Terrorist, do ensure you entrain at either Paris, Lille or Amsterdam. Just don't get on in Belgium.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I looked at the Thalys site and unbelievably, the checks are only 'carry-out-able' at Brussels. So if you get the same train from anywhere else, e.g. Schiphol, not!

So Mr Molenbeek Terrorist, do ensure you entrain at either Paris, Lille or Amsterdam. Just don't get on in Belgium.

The French are doing it as well. The Dutch also might be at some point - if they're doing it for E* extending it to Thalys isn't going to be hard.

But that kind of Swiss cheese brand of security theatre has been going for years in Spain.

 

[33Hz]

Also ICEs stop at Brussels Nord so I guess the terrorists won't think to board there either...

 

[duesselmartin]

Also ICEs stop at Brussels Nord so I guess the terrorists won't think to board there either...

and its ok for terrorists to enter Thalys in Germany too.