On the first full day of the 9-day railway strike, Saturday, about 6 out of every 10 scheduled trains will operate Belgium’s state-owned railway company NMBS says. The operator has already issued a warning disruption will be greater during the working week.
The strike is an initiative of 2 smaller railway unions, OVS and ASTB. It starts on Friday at 10pm and runs until Sunday 2 March at 10pm. The strike is called to protest against several federal government plans including an increase in the retirement age.
‘On Saturday 22 February, 3 out of 5 InterCity trains and 3 out of 5 Local and Suburban trains will run,’ NMBS said on Thursday. The railway company also warns that the impact ‘will be greater during the working week than on weekends’.
The impact of the strike varies from day to day. That is why the NMBS and rail network operator Infrabel are working out an alternative timetable for each day. These are based on the number of railway workers, who have indicated they will come to work.
As a result, train passengers will be able to see on the app which trains are running one day ahead of their journey. Assistance for passengers with reduced mobility remains possible.
Train operator NMBS and railtrack operator Infrabel both reiterate their stand that the strike is ‘totally unacceptable, irresponsible and disproportionate’. They are sorry about the impact on the 900,000 passengers transported every day.