Brussels – A railway strike in Belgium is causing significant disruptions to international train services today, particularly affecting routes to and from the Netherlands.
While Eurostar trains connecting Brussels and London remain unaffected, several other high-speed and regional train services have been cancelled or reduced.
Eurostar confirmed that 16 of its services scheduled for Monday have been cancelled, predominantly impacting travel between Brussels and Paris.
Additional cancellations include connections to Germany and the Netherlands. The disruption will extend into Tuesday, with four more Eurostar services being cancelled.
“Affected passengers have been notified and can exchange their tickets for free or request a refund,” a Eurostar spokesperson stated.
Eurocity services, which provide direct train connections between Belgium and the Netherlands, are also experiencing significant cutbacks.
On Monday, eight Eurocity Direct routes in each direction between Brussels and Amsterdam have been cancelled. Additionally, six Eurocity Direct services between Brussels and Rotterdam have also been suspended in each direction.
Austria’s ÖBB Nightjet sleeper trains, which typically operate between Vienna and Brussels, will not run in Belgium during the strike. Instead, the train will terminate in Cologne, Germany, on Sunday and resume service from Cologne on Monday.
Passengers needing to reach Belgium from Cologne have been advised to take an ICE train as an alternative.
For regional connections, the frequency of trains linking foreign stations such as Roosendaal, Maastricht, Aachen, Luxembourg, Lille, and Maubeuge will vary depending on alternative transport arrangements set up by the Belgian railway operator, SNCB.
Fire Disrupts Services Between Bruges and Ostend
In addition to the strike-related disruptions, train services between Bruges and Ostend have been suspended since Sunday afternoon due to a severe fire at a bicycle company in Bruges on Saturday evening.
The fire released asbestos particles into the surrounding area, prompting safety concerns and an immediate response from authorities.
A specialized cleaning crew has been deployed to clear the railway tracks of any asbestos contamination. However, the cleanup operation has led to an indefinite suspension of train services between Bruges and Ostend.
“Train services have been suspended for an unspecified period,” said Frédéric Petit, spokesperson for Infrabel, Belgium’s railway infrastructure manager.
As a temporary measure, SNCB has arranged replacement buses running in both directions to assist stranded passengers.
Before the full suspension, trains operating between Bruges and Ostend were already subject to speed restrictions of 20 km/h over a 1.5 km stretch due to concerns regarding asbestos exposure.
Travel Disruptions Expected to Continue
The railway strike and the aftermath of the fire are expected to cause ongoing delays and travel disruptions in Belgium.
Passengers planning to travel by train in the affected regions are advised to check updated schedules and seek alternative transport options where necessary.
Authorities have urged travelers to remain patient and make use of available compensation options for affected services.
Meanwhile, railway unions have yet to confirm when regular services will resume, leaving thousands of commuters uncertain about their travel plans in the coming days.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
