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passengers to, from and within belgium There will be serious disruption in the coming week as transport unions prepare for another round of strikes to protest against government budget cuts. Hundreds of trains will be canceled and no planes will fly from Sunday night. brussels Airport on Wednesday.
Rail workers begin a 72-hour strike from 10pm on Sunday 23 November until the last night train on Wednesday 26 November. Belgian railways are preparing a skeleton service, but details are only expected to be published 24 hours in advance.
In Brussels, local transport organization Stib says: “We expect major disruption on our network on Monday 24, Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 November due to the three-day national strike against the measures taken by the federal government.
“We will make every effort to ensure at least a partial service and to keep our passengers informed in real time about the situation on our network. However, we invite all those who have the possibility to do so to seek alternative solutions to moving around Brussels on those days.”
De Lijn, which runs trams and buses in – including – Flanders used And Ghent – Warned: “Bus and tram services will be reduced across Flanders during the three-day action.” Running transportation information is expected to be published approximately 36 hours in advance.
There will be nationwide protests on Wednesday 26 November. All flights from Brussels Airport have been canceled for the day due to a walkout by ground staff and security personnel.
“Unfortunately we anticipate major disruption to our airport operations that day,” passengers have been told.
Almost all arrivals are likely to be stopped. British Airways has already canceled its connections between London Heathrow and Brussels for a day.
Marie Helen Ska, general secretary of the Belgian trade union confederation ACV-CSC, said: “This escalating strike strategy is necessary. The alternative – allowing austerity measures to proceed unchallenged – would mean accepting a fundamental restructuring of Belgium’s social model, transforming it from one of Europe’s more protective welfare states to one of the far more precarious states for working people.”
Further strikes by rail workers – who are past retirement age – are planned for the new year.