Late on 26 November Brussels public-transport operator STIB-MIVB confirmed that all metro, tram and bus lines would run to normal timetables from the morning of 27 November, ending three days of heavily reduced operations. During the strike only two of the city’s four metro lines ran and several tram routes were truncated, forcing commuters and business travellers to rely on taxis or walk long distances.
The restoration eases access to EU institutions, corporate HQs and the airport rail link from Brussels-Midi, crucial for visiting delegations attending end-of-year board meetings. STIB warns of potential crowding as passengers clear backlogs; journey-time buffers of 15 minutes are recommended this week.
![Brussels Metro, Tram and Bus Back to Full Service After Strike]()
Season-ticket holders can claim compensation under STIB’s “strike guarantee” scheme, and employers may wish to remind staff to submit claims before 15 December. Masks remain mandatory on public transport until 31 December under Belgium’s residual COVID-19 rules — a point expatriates unfamiliar with local regulations should note.
While urban services are back, rail operator SNCB and Eurostar are still ironing out knock-on timetable changes, underscoring the need for multimodal contingency planning during industrial unrest.
The restoration eases access to EU institutions, corporate HQs and the airport rail link from Brussels-Midi, crucial for visiting delegations attending end-of-year board meetings. STIB warns of potential crowding as passengers clear backlogs; journey-time buffers of 15 minutes are recommended this week.
Season-ticket holders can claim compensation under STIB’s “strike guarantee” scheme, and employers may wish to remind staff to submit claims before 15 December. Masks remain mandatory on public transport until 31 December under Belgium’s residual COVID-19 rules — a point expatriates unfamiliar with local regulations should note.
While urban services are back, rail operator SNCB and Eurostar are still ironing out knock-on timetable changes, underscoring the need for multimodal contingency planning during industrial unrest.
