Antwerp Central Station has reopened, and railway company NMBS announced that all affected trains and trams will return to their regular schedules starting at noon. The station was

evacuated on Friday morning when police discovered two abandoned suitcases on the side of Mediaplein, which were deemed suspicious. The mine clearance service DOVO was called in for an analysis, and the area was cleared as a precaution.

Despite the initial concern, the police later confirmed that it was a false alarm, and the station area is now safe for public use.

According to Dimitri Temmerman, NMBS spokesperson, it may take some time for the staff to return to Central Station. Many employees had relocated to Antwerp-Berchem station during the evacuation to assist, and they will need to make their way back. Train diversions also occurred, which may result in delays as normal operations are gradually restored.

Both NMBS and rail network operator Infrabel aim to have train services running close to normal by the evening rush hour. The disruption had a significant impact, with no train traffic at Antwerp Central for approximately four hours, and its effects are expected to linger.

The individual responsible for the abandoned suitcases has been identified and is currently being questioned by local authorities, as confirmed by the local police. Photo by Fred Romero from Paris, France, Wikimedia commons.