Railex exercise involving the use of a Thalys train

22 September 2015

Between 50 and 70 police officers invaded very discreetly the Schaerbeek marshalling yard to carry out an anti-terrorist exercise in a Thalys train that was put at their disposal. Although this type of real-life exercise takes place on average twice a year, it was for the first time carried out in a Thalys train. The exercise was a direct consequence of the failed attack aboard the Thalys train 9364 travelling from Amsterdam to Paris on 21 August 2015.

The aim of the operation was to learn to work in real conditions according to different scenarios. In a reasonably traditional way, the former exercises involved rather escorting football supporters, cases of suicide or railway accidents.

As a consequence of the current events, the Railway Police has changed its tactics and works on terrorist attack scenarios. Three members of the French Railway Police and two of their Dutch counterparts took actively part in the exercise.