Belgian train crash: At least 20 feared dead in Halle

The trains collided during the morning rush hour

Reports from Belgium say at least 20 people have been killed in a head-on collision between two trains outside the capital, Brussels.

Railway officials said the two trains collided during the morning rush hour at Halle, south-west of Brussels.

The local mayor told Belgian media that at least 20 people had been killed in the crash, but railway officials could not confirm the figure.

Belgian media said the trains collided in snowy conditions.

Mayor Dirk Pieters said "the most recent information we have is that 20 people died".

The trains collided in the commuter town around 0830 local time (0730GMT) on Monday.

Television pictures showed the lead carriages of each train pushed into the air leaning against each other.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8515855.stm

I called over to Brussels a few hours ago.

The paramedics were performing amputations on the spot, etc. Total carnage. My friend was passing dozens of ambulances
on his way to work this morning (he was debating taking the train, and decided to drive today). Thalys services were
suspended between Brussels and Paris, and if they don't resume in less than 48 hours, I am going to really make the
day of some Brussels taxi driver on Wednesday.

Glad your friend decided to drive today.

He said it was a last-minute toss-of-the-coin decision, too.

:(