Grillo-Pasquarelli said the European Commission was not trying to blame anybody for the 15 February tragedy. However, he rebuffed accusations from the Belgian railway operator (SNCB) that delays in coming up with harmonised legislation had contributed to the crash.
SNCB Chief Executive Marc De Scheemaecker had told the press that "the EU's hesitations on a harmonised automatic braking system caused delays to Belgian plans to secure the lines".
The head-on collision near Hal, which occurred during the morning rush hour, killed 18 people and left more than 150 injured (EurActiv 16/02/10).
"We did not prevent the Belgian state or the SNCB from installing a national security system," Grillo-Pasquarelli said. After a similar train crash in Pécrot in the Walloon region in 2001, the Belgian authorities said they would install a system to stop trains automatically when they ignore a red light.
Shortly after Monday's crash, local governor Lodewijk De Witte said one of the trains had gone through a red light.
"Belgium could have chosen the European system in 2001 as EU norms were set in 2000," insisted Grillo-Pasquarelli. But these were only formalised in 2005 by a memorandum of understanding signed by the European Commission and the rail industry (manufacturers, infrastructure managers and undertakings).
In 2005, the Commission asked EU member states to progressively move towards the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). One component of ERTMS, the European Train Control System (ETCS), guarantees a common standard that enables trains to cross national borders and enhances safety.
However, "ERTMS measures concern only international trains crossing EU member-state borders and not national trains," said Christian Faure, an expert on ERTMS at the Commission.
"The system used by Belgium for its national trains is one of the ERTMS devices, called Eurobalise," said Faure. The system ensures communication between the tracks and the train. After receiving permission to move via Eurobalise, onboard ETCS equipment automatically calculates the train's maximum speed and its braking curve.
As for Monday's crash, even though the tracks were equipped with the system, one of the trains involved was not, Descheemaecker confessed to the press.
The SNCB requires all trains to be equipped with Eurobalises before 2013. Only a third are currently carry the system.
