Grounded: Eurostar services to Brussels have been hit by the strikeEurostar services between London and Brussels have been hit by a 24-hour strike by Belgian rail workers.
Just one Eurostar service is running between the UK and Brussels.
The industrial action by rail unions has brought the majority of the country’s railway system to a halt in a row over new contract terms for workers at Belgian national rail operator SNCB/NMBS's freight unit.
Disruption began at 10pm local time on Sunday. The last Eurostar train to leave for London was the 7.34pm service, which was brought forward to 5.27pm to avoid the start of the strike.
The only train running between the cities today will be the 7.34pm from London. High-speed onward rail connections from Brussels to destinations in France, Holland and Germany have also been affected.
Passengers have been advised to rearrange their journeys. A spokesperson for Eurostar said a revised timetable was in operation, with a limited coach service being run between Lille and Brussels, though they warned that demand for seats was likely to be high.
Travellers to the continent have had to endure strike-ridden journeys to France over the past week which has seen oil refineries closed down.
Over half of the country’s TGV journeys from Paris to Luxembourg though reports that two major airports in Paris would have to close due to lack of fuel have been dispelled by the French government.
The Belgian strike has been called after the CGSP/ACOD union rejected management demands for more flexibility and a change in labor conditions at SNCB’s freight business.
Anyone urgently needing to travel to or from Brussels was asked to contact Eurostar. Customers are able to exchange their Eurostar tickets free of charge within 60 days for a journey in the next 120 days. Visit www.eurostar.com or contact 08432 186 186.
source: dailymail
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