Eurostar has published an extensive list of service disruptions affecting travel to and from Belgium between 14 and 19 December, with additional delays reported on 16 December due to track problems at Brussels-Midi/Zuid. Several trains on the Brussels–Paris and Brussels–London routes have been cancelled outright, while others are operating on modified timetables.
The operator attributes part of the chaos to engineering works on the French network and part to “operational restrictions” linked to rolling-stock availability. On 16 December, passengers were advised to expect delays of up to 60 minutes departing Brussels-Midi. Eurostar is offering free exchanges or refunds but warns that alternative services are heavily booked in the run-up to Christmas.
For corporate mobility teams, the disruptions pose a tangible risk to same-day meeting travel and Friday commuter rotations. Companies should consider switching to Thalys or ICE services for intra-EU journeys or fly via Zaventem until 20 December, when the works are scheduled to finish. HR departments with cross-Channel commuters should remind staff to keep boarding passes for expense claims, as disrupted journeys can trigger accommodation costs in London or Brussels.
![Engineering Works and Track Problems Trigger Eurostar Cancellations and Delays for Brussels-Bound Travellers]()
If rerouting means passing through additional Schengen borders or a sudden shift to air travel, travellers can quickly verify and secure any required documents through VisaHQ. The agency’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers rapid e-visa, passport renewal and travel insurance solutions, ensuring that last-minute itinerary changes caused by the Eurostar disruptions don’t become paperwork nightmares.
Logistics providers that rely on Eurostar’s ‘Express Freight’ product face similar challenges; time-sensitive cargo may need to move by road via Calais or airfreight via Ostend. Eurostar advises freight forwarders to contact account managers for bespoke rerouting options.
Eurostar says a normal timetable should resume on 20 December, but further short-notice alterations remain possible if weather or technical issues arise. Travellers are urged to check the live updates portal up to the moment of departure.
The operator attributes part of the chaos to engineering works on the French network and part to “operational restrictions” linked to rolling-stock availability. On 16 December, passengers were advised to expect delays of up to 60 minutes departing Brussels-Midi. Eurostar is offering free exchanges or refunds but warns that alternative services are heavily booked in the run-up to Christmas.
For corporate mobility teams, the disruptions pose a tangible risk to same-day meeting travel and Friday commuter rotations. Companies should consider switching to Thalys or ICE services for intra-EU journeys or fly via Zaventem until 20 December, when the works are scheduled to finish. HR departments with cross-Channel commuters should remind staff to keep boarding passes for expense claims, as disrupted journeys can trigger accommodation costs in London or Brussels.
If rerouting means passing through additional Schengen borders or a sudden shift to air travel, travellers can quickly verify and secure any required documents through VisaHQ. The agency’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers rapid e-visa, passport renewal and travel insurance solutions, ensuring that last-minute itinerary changes caused by the Eurostar disruptions don’t become paperwork nightmares.
Logistics providers that rely on Eurostar’s ‘Express Freight’ product face similar challenges; time-sensitive cargo may need to move by road via Calais or airfreight via Ostend. Eurostar advises freight forwarders to contact account managers for bespoke rerouting options.
Eurostar says a normal timetable should resume on 20 December, but further short-notice alterations remain possible if weather or technical issues arise. Travellers are urged to check the live updates portal up to the moment of departure.
