Belgium awoke on Monday, 26 January to the first full day of a nationwide rail strike that will last until 22:00 on Friday, 30 January. The industrial action began at 22:00 on Sunday evening after talks between the government and five rail unions collapsed over plans to abolish automatic permanent appointments for new staff and to prepare the network for EU-mandated liberalisation in 2032.
National operator SNCB/NMBS is running an ‘alternative timetable’ based on the staff available each day. On Monday three out of four InterCity (IC) services and two out of three local (L/S) services operated; very few peak-hour (P) trains are expected all week. The reduced offering is published only 24 hours in advance on the company’s journey-planner, making forward planning difficult for commuters and business travellers. (brusselstimes.com)
International passengers also face headaches. Eurostar, TGV INOUÏ, ICE and Thalys/Ouigo trains continue to run but warn of cascading delays or re-routing when Belgian connections are missed. Travellers are advised to allow extra buffer time and to download disruption certificates needed for expense claims or visa-compliance paperwork. (brusselstimes.com)
![Belgium’s five-day national rail strike launches, disrupting domestic and cross-border travel]()
Business-critical cargo is similarly exposed: automotive plants in Flanders that rely on just-in-time rail freight have shifted to road transport, while logistics providers report longer transit times to Zeebrugge and Antwerp ports. Hotels around Brussels-Midi report a spike in last-minute bookings from stranded passengers.
For global-mobility managers the strike is a stress-test of contingency plans. Companies with travellers in Belgium should register staff on live-alert apps, advise them to keep tickets and receipts for reimbursement, and consider re-routing via Lille, Eindhoven or Düsseldorf airports if onward rail legs are essential. Employers with posted workers must remember that Belgium requires proof of ‘force-majeure residence’ when visa holders over-stay because of transport strikes – disruption certificates downloaded from SNCB’s website usually suffice.
The dispute highlights a broader European trend: transport unions are increasingly willing to mount prolonged strikes to influence pending market-opening reforms. With the next negotiating round not scheduled until mid-February, further stoppages in spring cannot be ruled out.
National operator SNCB/NMBS is running an ‘alternative timetable’ based on the staff available each day. On Monday three out of four InterCity (IC) services and two out of three local (L/S) services operated; very few peak-hour (P) trains are expected all week. The reduced offering is published only 24 hours in advance on the company’s journey-planner, making forward planning difficult for commuters and business travellers. (brusselstimes.com)
International passengers also face headaches. Eurostar, TGV INOUÏ, ICE and Thalys/Ouigo trains continue to run but warn of cascading delays or re-routing when Belgian connections are missed. Travellers are advised to allow extra buffer time and to download disruption certificates needed for expense claims or visa-compliance paperwork. (brusselstimes.com)
Business-critical cargo is similarly exposed: automotive plants in Flanders that rely on just-in-time rail freight have shifted to road transport, while logistics providers report longer transit times to Zeebrugge and Antwerp ports. Hotels around Brussels-Midi report a spike in last-minute bookings from stranded passengers.
For global-mobility managers the strike is a stress-test of contingency plans. Companies with travellers in Belgium should register staff on live-alert apps, advise them to keep tickets and receipts for reimbursement, and consider re-routing via Lille, Eindhoven or Düsseldorf airports if onward rail legs are essential. Employers with posted workers must remember that Belgium requires proof of ‘force-majeure residence’ when visa holders over-stay because of transport strikes – disruption certificates downloaded from SNCB’s website usually suffice.
The dispute highlights a broader European trend: transport unions are increasingly willing to mount prolonged strikes to influence pending market-opening reforms. With the next negotiating round not scheduled until mid-February, further stoppages in spring cannot be ruled out.
