Rail strike to disrupt services for 24 hours
A 24-hour national rail strike is set to begin Sunday at 22:00. Train services across the country will be significantly reduced.
The strike, organised by the major rail unions ACV Transcom and ACOD Spoor, is in protest against planned government measures, including a higher retirement age and budget cuts at the national railway company, SNCB/NMBS.
SNCB has announced an alternative timetable, available via its website and app. On Saturday, only one in two IC (Intercity) trains will run between major cities. Additionally, just two out of five local (L) and suburban (S) trains will operate. During peak hours, there will be almost no P trains, which normally serve commuters.
More strikes planned
However, most P student trains running on Sunday evening - serving routes between Brussels, Leuven, Ghent, Liège and Louvain-la-Neuve - will run as scheduled, as they depart before the strike officially begins.
This is the latest in a series of planned strikes. Unions have scheduled 18 strike days until July. Another stoppage, organised by the smaller Metisp-Protect union, is planned from 23-30 March and will involve rolling strikes among train drivers and conductors.
A further strike is planned for 31 March, when ACOD Spoor and ACV Transcom will join a general strike led by ABVV and ACV.
SNCB, infrastructure manager Infrabel and HR Rail have expressed regret over the unions’ continued strike action, despite recent talks with ministers.
A passenger at Brussels North station during a strike in January © BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT
Related news
