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RailcarFlanders

Learn traffic rules with clear explanations and visual examples in our illustrated book, designed to make studying simple and engaging.

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Flanders

96. Railcar

A railcar is a self-propelled railway vehicle that can operate independently and carry passengers, luggage, mail or freight. Unlike a conventional passenger coach or freight wagon, a railcar has its own means of propulsion and does not necessarily require a separate locomotive.

Railcars may operate individually or together with other compatible railway vehicles. Road users may encounter them at level crossings and should follow all railway-crossing signs, signals and barriers when one is approaching.

Railcar
Former SNCB railcar 4506 at Spontin station on the Chemin de fer du Bocq heritage railway. (Spontin, Belgium)
Wikimedia.org • Noben k • CC BY-SA
Is a railcar a separate traffic category in Belgium?

No. The current Belgian Road Code generally uses the broader term rail vehicle. A railcar operating on railway tracks falls within this broader concept for road-traffic interactions.

Must road users give way to railcars in Belgium?

Yes. Road users must give way to rail vehicles and must clear the tracks as quickly as possible when necessary.

What should you do if a railcar is approaching a Belgian level crossing?

Do not enter the crossing. At a crossing without barriers or functioning traffic lights, you may proceed only after making sure that no rail vehicle is approaching. You must also stop when barriers are moving or closed, red flashing lights are operating or the audible warning signal is sounding.

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