Belgium’s three main rail unions—ACOD Spoor, CSC-Transcom and SLFP—formally filed strike notice on 8 January 2026 for a five-day walk-out from Monday 26 to Friday 30 January. The action targets federal legislation that would abolish statutory civil-servant status for new SNCB and Infrabel recruits from June 2026 and introduce what unions describe as ‘one-sided’ decision-making rules in joint labour committees. ([thebulletin.be](https://www.thebulletin.be/railway-strike-planned-26-30-january?utm_source=openai))
If the strike proceeds, SNCB will run only a ‘service minimum’—historically about 25-30 % of normal weekday trains—while international operators Thalys, Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn will have to decide whether to divert or cancel services that transit Belgian tracks. For global mobility teams the timing is awkward: the last week of January is a traditional rotation window for graduate programmes and short-term assignees starting 1 February. Employers will have to arrange alternative road transport or approve extra hotel nights for relocating staff. ([thebulletin.be](https://www.thebulletin.be/railway-strike-planned-26-30-january?utm_source=openai))
![Belgian rail unions call week-long strike for 26–30 January, threatening nationwide travel chaos]()
Meanwhile, travelers who may need to detour through neighboring countries should ensure their passports and any required Schengen visas are in order; VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) can fast-track visa applications and provide up-to-date entry guidance, sparing mobility coordinators from last-minute documentation surprises.
The work-stoppage could also snarl commuter flows into Brussels’ EU quarter just as the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU hosts a series of high-level meetings. Council officials told The Bulletin they are exploring charter-bus shuttles from Ghent, Antwerp and Liège, and may allow hybrid attendance for delegates unable to reach the capital. ([thebulletin.be](https://www.thebulletin.be/railway-strike-planned-26-30-january?utm_source=openai))
Companies with travel approval workflows are urged to flag 25–31 January as ‘amber’ days in online booking tools and to brief travellers on reimbursement rules for taxis and car-hire. Past rail strikes have spilled over into ancillary sectors such as baggage-handling at Brussels Airport when union solidarity actions were called; mobility managers should therefore monitor aviation bulletins closely. ([levif.be](https://www.levif.be/belgique/social/mouvements-sociaux/sncb-les-syndicats-du-rail-confirment-une-semaine-de-greve-du-26-au-30-janvier/?utm_source=openai))
If the strike proceeds, SNCB will run only a ‘service minimum’—historically about 25-30 % of normal weekday trains—while international operators Thalys, Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn will have to decide whether to divert or cancel services that transit Belgian tracks. For global mobility teams the timing is awkward: the last week of January is a traditional rotation window for graduate programmes and short-term assignees starting 1 February. Employers will have to arrange alternative road transport or approve extra hotel nights for relocating staff. ([thebulletin.be](https://www.thebulletin.be/railway-strike-planned-26-30-january?utm_source=openai))
Meanwhile, travelers who may need to detour through neighboring countries should ensure their passports and any required Schengen visas are in order; VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) can fast-track visa applications and provide up-to-date entry guidance, sparing mobility coordinators from last-minute documentation surprises.
The work-stoppage could also snarl commuter flows into Brussels’ EU quarter just as the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU hosts a series of high-level meetings. Council officials told The Bulletin they are exploring charter-bus shuttles from Ghent, Antwerp and Liège, and may allow hybrid attendance for delegates unable to reach the capital. ([thebulletin.be](https://www.thebulletin.be/railway-strike-planned-26-30-january?utm_source=openai))
Companies with travel approval workflows are urged to flag 25–31 January as ‘amber’ days in online booking tools and to brief travellers on reimbursement rules for taxis and car-hire. Past rail strikes have spilled over into ancillary sectors such as baggage-handling at Brussels Airport when union solidarity actions were called; mobility managers should therefore monitor aviation bulletins closely. ([levif.be](https://www.levif.be/belgique/social/mouvements-sociaux/sncb-les-syndicats-du-rail-confirment-une-semaine-de-greve-du-26-au-30-janvier/?utm_source=openai))
