A large-scale rail strike in Belgium is causing major disruption to rail traffic. Two smaller unions, OVS and ASTB, have announced that they will disrupt the railways for nine days.
The strike started on Friday 21 February at 22.00:2 and will last until Sunday 22.00 March at XNUMX:XNUMX. The Belgian railways (NMBS) expect significant disruptions and are trying to limit the impact with an alternative timetable. However, it is clear that travellers will suffer as a result of this action.
The strike also threatens to have a sequel. The METISP-Protect union has announced that it is considering its own strike, which will last from 2 March at 22.00:30 until 22.00 March at XNUMX:XNUMX. What this means in concrete terms for travellers remains unclear for the time being.
consequences in the netherlands
The impact of the strike is not only noticeable in Belgium. Travellers in the Netherlands are also affected by the strike. For example, there will be no Eurocity Direct trains between Belgium and the Netherlands during the campaign period. These trains will operate exclusively within the Netherlands, with a route between Lelystad Centrum and Rotterdam Centraal. Travellers who want to travel to or from Belgium will have to find alternatives.
The regular EuroCity trains will also run less frequently. This will have consequences for international travellers who usually use these connections. The impact on the high-speed trains Eurostar and TGV is not yet clear. Travellers are advised to keep an eye on the updates on the websites of NMBS and NS International.
structural problems
The reason behind the strike lies in the continuing discontent among railway personnel. OVS and ASTB state that the workload is too high and that the working conditions at NMBS must improve drastically. They demand more personnel and better working conditions for train drivers and other railway personnel. NMBS has indicated that it wants to continue the talks, but for the time being there seems to be no solution in sight.
The coming days will be crucial in the further course of this social unrest on the railways. One thing is certain: passengers are not yet out of the woods.
Rail traffic in Belgium has been struggling with problems for some time now. The NMBS is struggling to cope with staff shortages and passengers are complaining about delays and cancelled trains. The current strike is once again exposing these structural problems.
travelers are the victims
For the average train passenger, the strike comes at a very unfortunate time. Many commuters, students and tourists depend on the train and are now forced to look for alternatives. The NMBS advises passengers to prepare their journey well and to check the journey planner regularly. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of uncertainty.
In the meantime, the announced strike by METISP-Protect in March is being watched with suspicion. If this strike goes ahead, Belgian rail traffic is threatened with a paralysis that will last almost a month and a half. The question is how long the government and the NMBS can let this situation escalate before a structural solution is found.
