Eurostar chaos as 27 killed in head-on commuter train crash

At least 27 people were feared dead this afternoon after two packed commuter trains collided head-on at speed in Belgium.

The lead carriages of each train jack-knifed on impact this morning. One passenger said: "The collision was a brutal one, the train did not brake. Coaches have been overturned and many people have been hit. It is carnage."

Rail networks across Europe were badly hit and thousands of Eurostar passengers were stranded in London and Brussels as nine services were cancelled.

The collision happened in snowy conditions near Halle, nine miles south-west of the Belgian capital. A third train is said to have derailed.

Initial reports suggested frozen tracks may have caused the disaster. Another report said one of the trains may had jumped a red light.

It was also suggested that a language problem between Belgium and Flemish rail workers may have been a factor — like a similar crash in 2001. One train was providing a Flemish service this morning, while the other was travelling towards the Belgian city of Liege.

Survivors confirmed that the train they were travelling in had not attempted to brake. "It was travelling at high speed and had no intention of stopping," said one. "The collision was like an earthquake. It was absolute chaos."

Many of those injured will need to have arms and legs amputated, said Etienne Schouppe, the Belgian transport secretary. She said that at least one child had been killed. Train operator SNCB said 250 to 300 people were travelling in the two trains at the time. Both trains were going through Buizingen, a suburb of Halle, when they collided shortly before 8.30am. One train had left Brussels and the other was approaching the city. Although the high-speed rail links used by Eurostar trains were not directly affected, they were closed as emergency services poured into the area, blocking the lines.

Eurostar today advised its passengers to exchange or have their tickets refunded. Bram De Saedeleer, of rail track operator Infrabel, said: "The devastation is enormous."