Rail unions to discuss terms with Mobility minister amid ongoing strikes
The two main Belgian rail unions will meet with the new Mobility minister, Jean-Luc Crucke, to discuss the ongoing train strikes, according to the head of the Christian rail union ACV-Transcom.
Unions have been pushing back against policies introduced by the new federal government, with a central sticking point being pension scheme cuts for rail personnel. The strikes, which began on Friday, were initiated by two smaller rail unions, OVS and ASTB, but ACV and ABVV plan to strike as well, with rotating actions in March and on multiple dates each month until July.
ACV, ABVV and Crucke agreed to "consult every two weeks from 10 March", according to Koen De Mey of ACV-Transcom.
"The will is there to sit around the table with the management and the rail directors to determine the direction together," he said, suggesting a possible pause to the strikes. The union is set to discuss this on Tuesday, while the socialist union has scheduled talks for Thursday.
The pension dossier is the responsibility of Pensions minister Jan Jambon, but no consultation has been set up with him yet.
Service improvement
The impact of the strike, set to last until 2 March, varies daily. Wednesday will see a slight improvement in service, with 50 per cent of IC trains and 40 per cent of L and S trains running, compared to 40 per cent and 33 per cent on Tuesday. P trains, essential for rush-hour commuters, remain mostly cancelled.
Passengers have expressed increasing frustration over service disruptions. TreinTramBus, a travellers' advocacy group, has criticised train operator SNCB/NL's handling of the strike.
"The SCNB is failing miserably here"
Chair Peter Meukens called the alternative schedule "not reliable", citing instances where planned trains did not run. "We fully understand that this is a difficult week for the SNCB and that they have to make do with what they have. But passengers must be able to rely on the alternative train service that is published 24 hours in advance," he said.
He highlighted issues such as a complete lack of trains in West Flanders on Saturday and severe overcrowding on some routes. "We received reports of trains between Antwerp and Brussels with only one train set," he said. "Passengers are crammed together like sardines in a can. How is that possible?"
The overcrowding has led to further disruptions, with railway police forcing passengers off packed trains, exacerbating delays. "The SNCB is failing miserably here," Meukens said, calling for automatic compensation for season ticket holders.
"Passengers have paid for a ticket and are then thrown off the train, not because they are not in order, but because the SNCB is failing in its service provision."
Response to overcrowding
SNCB spokesperson Dimitri Temmerman defended the company's efforts, saying it was doing everything it could to maximise services.
"It is true that fewer trains are running per hour. Especially in the large stations and during peak hours, we see that it is busier than normal," he said. He noted that SNCB was exploring ways to increase capacity where possible and advised passengers to check the journey planner before travelling.
Meanwhile, TreinTramBus has urged the unions to halt their actions and return to negotiations with the government and SNCB.
Brussels-Midi railway station during strike action, 22 February 2025 © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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