Belgian rail operator SNCB has confirmed that a 24-hour public-sector strike will disrupt the national rail network from 22:00 CET on Sunday, 11 October until the last scheduled service on Monday, 12 October. The walk-out—called by the ACOD-CGSP union over wage indexation and staffing levels—will see only around 30 % of trains running on most InterCity and regional routes. International travellers face additional complexity as SNCB’s strike timetable shows cancellations on cross-border services to Rotterdam, Luxembourg, Lille and Aachen. SNCB advises passengers to consult the online journey planner 24 hours before departure; alternative services will be loaded into the system once available crew numbers are known. Saver-ticket restrictions have been lifted, allowing travellers to use tickets one day before or after their original date. Nightjet’s Vienna–Brussels sleeper will terminate in Cologne, with ticket-holders permitted to transfer to ICE trains. Business travellers heading to Brussels Airport on Monday should allow extra time or consider road transport. While the airport itself is not expecting flight cancellations, access by train will be limited, and local public transport operator STIB/MIVB warns of knock-on effects on metro and tram frequencies. Companies with commuters in Belgium are activating telework and travel-postponement policies. Mobility managers should remind staff that Belgian strike notices are typically confirmed 48 hours in advance, but final service levels are published only the evening before action begins. Employers that reimburse rail season tickets may face refund requests; SNCB has confirmed that partial compensation will be available for commuters whose usual trains are cancelled.
