Train tragedy highlights EU need to make rail signals systems safer

RAILWAY workers yesterday found the second black box from this week's Belgian train collision, a crash that European Union officials said showed the need to install quickly a failsafe signalling system across Eurpope's patchwork of rail networks.

The data recorders could shed light on why one commuter train apparently ran a red light on Monday and collided laterally with another as it was shifting on to a merging track, shearing off the side of one of the carriages.

The tragedy highlighted the failure by national railways to meld some 20 incompatible systems into a unified, computer-driven signalling network with an automatic braking system.

The stretch of line on which the accident occurred will not be upgraded for four years, though it is one of the choke points where Europe's high-speed trains share tracks with local traffic, say European officials.

Two days after the collision, the wreckage remained on the tracks nine miles south of Brussels.

There were 18 known deaths, but more bodies may be found. Provincial officials said another 171 people were injured.

Last night, it was announced that Eurostar services between Britain and Brussels have been suspended until Monday following the disaster.

EU nations are gradually replacing their railway signalling systems with the unified European Rail Traffic Management System, but the project's price tag of 5 billion (4.5bn) has led to delays.

EU transport safety officials added that some nations were reluctant to replace even systems that are 50 years old.