The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel guidance on 21 January, warning UK citizens of a five-day national rail strike across Belgium from the evening of 25 January to 30 January. The walkout—called by three trade-union federations in protest over staffing levels and pension reforms—threatens to halt or severely curtail services operated by SNCB, including Brussels-London Eurostar connections.
Eurostar has not yet published contingency timetables but said it expects knock-on delays and possible cancellations because Belgian drivers are required for segments between Brussels and the Dutch and French borders. Passengers booked on affected days can opt for free date changes or refunds once revised schedules are confirmed. Le Shuttle freight services are not directly impacted but may face congestion as displaced travellers divert to car crossings via Calais and Dunkirk.
The strike coincides with peak post-holiday business-travel volumes, and travel managers are being urged to reroute via Lille or Paris, where onward Thalys and TGV options may still operate. UK exporters that rely on rail freight through Belgium are also assessing contingency trucking via Zeebrugge or Rotterdam.
![UK Foreign Office Issues Alert Over Five-Day Belgian Rail Strike]()
Amid such disruptions, travellers may suddenly need to transit additional Schengen countries or switch to air routes at short notice. VisaHQ’s UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) can quickly determine whether extra visas or travel authorisations are required, assist with expedited applications, and provide real-time entry-requirement updates—helping you stay compliant even when itineraries change overnight.
Under EU Passenger Rights Regulation 1371/2007, rail operators must offer assistance and compensation, yet mobility advisers caution that hotel availability in Brussels will be tight due to the Batibouw construction trade fair opening the same week. Travellers should keep all receipts for potential claims and monitor the FCDO’s social-media channels for real-time updates.
The alert is the latest reminder that labour unrest on the Continent can have immediate consequences for UK mobility programmes, even after Brexit, because cross-border rail remains a critical artery for sustainable travel commitments.
Eurostar has not yet published contingency timetables but said it expects knock-on delays and possible cancellations because Belgian drivers are required for segments between Brussels and the Dutch and French borders. Passengers booked on affected days can opt for free date changes or refunds once revised schedules are confirmed. Le Shuttle freight services are not directly impacted but may face congestion as displaced travellers divert to car crossings via Calais and Dunkirk.
The strike coincides with peak post-holiday business-travel volumes, and travel managers are being urged to reroute via Lille or Paris, where onward Thalys and TGV options may still operate. UK exporters that rely on rail freight through Belgium are also assessing contingency trucking via Zeebrugge or Rotterdam.
Amid such disruptions, travellers may suddenly need to transit additional Schengen countries or switch to air routes at short notice. VisaHQ’s UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) can quickly determine whether extra visas or travel authorisations are required, assist with expedited applications, and provide real-time entry-requirement updates—helping you stay compliant even when itineraries change overnight.
Under EU Passenger Rights Regulation 1371/2007, rail operators must offer assistance and compensation, yet mobility advisers caution that hotel availability in Brussels will be tight due to the Batibouw construction trade fair opening the same week. Travellers should keep all receipts for potential claims and monitor the FCDO’s social-media channels for real-time updates.
The alert is the latest reminder that labour unrest on the Continent can have immediate consequences for UK mobility programmes, even after Brexit, because cross-border rail remains a critical artery for sustainable travel commitments.
