Eurostar issued a fresh travel alert on Monday after a series of technical and “operational constraints” at Brussels-Midi and on connecting Belgian tracks caused rolling delays throughout the day. The operator’s live bulletin at 10:54 CET listed multiple hold-ups on 12 January—some linked to an unauthorised person on the line and others to knock-on congestion between Brussels and Paris. Services to Amsterdam and Cologne were also affected. (eurostar.com)
Passengers reported queueing at the juxtaposed UK Border and Schengen controls, with missed connections onto SNCB domestic trains. Eurostar is allowing fee-free rebooking within 60 days, but refund rights depend on delay duration, prompting calls for HR teams to brief travelling staff about claim procedures.
If documentation issues emerge because travellers are forced onto alternative routes or different modes of transport, VisaHQ can help cut through the red tape. The firm’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides rapid Belgian visa and passport services, plus real-time guidance on entry requirements—support that can be invaluable when itineraries shift unexpectedly due to rail disruptions.
![Brussels-Midi Bottleneck: Eurostar Warns of Cascading Delays Across Belgian Network]()
For corporates, the disruption underscores the fragility of multi-segment rail itineraries favoured for sustainable travel policies. Those routing assignees via Brussels for same-day onward TGV or ICE services should pad schedules by at least two hours or consider overnight stays. Remote-check-in meeting tools or hybrid events may mitigate productivity loss.
The alert also foreshadows further turbulence: Eurostar has already pre-cancelled trains between 5 January and 8 February to accommodate infrastructure works and French strike action. Mobility planners are advised to track the operator’s feed and hold contingency budgets for last-minute air or car-hire alternatives.
Belgian immigration procedures at the International Terminal remain unchanged; however, longer dwell times in the departure hall could complicate EU Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric enrolment once kiosks go live later this quarter.
Passengers reported queueing at the juxtaposed UK Border and Schengen controls, with missed connections onto SNCB domestic trains. Eurostar is allowing fee-free rebooking within 60 days, but refund rights depend on delay duration, prompting calls for HR teams to brief travelling staff about claim procedures.
If documentation issues emerge because travellers are forced onto alternative routes or different modes of transport, VisaHQ can help cut through the red tape. The firm’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides rapid Belgian visa and passport services, plus real-time guidance on entry requirements—support that can be invaluable when itineraries shift unexpectedly due to rail disruptions.
For corporates, the disruption underscores the fragility of multi-segment rail itineraries favoured for sustainable travel policies. Those routing assignees via Brussels for same-day onward TGV or ICE services should pad schedules by at least two hours or consider overnight stays. Remote-check-in meeting tools or hybrid events may mitigate productivity loss.
The alert also foreshadows further turbulence: Eurostar has already pre-cancelled trains between 5 January and 8 February to accommodate infrastructure works and French strike action. Mobility planners are advised to track the operator’s feed and hold contingency budgets for last-minute air or car-hire alternatives.
Belgian immigration procedures at the International Terminal remain unchanged; however, longer dwell times in the departure hall could complicate EU Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric enrolment once kiosks go live later this quarter.
