Belgium awoke on Monday, 26 January to the first full day of a nationwide rail strike that will last until 22:00 on Friday, 30 January. The industrial action began at 22:00 on Sunday evening after talks between the government and five rail unions collapsed over plans to abolish automatic permanent appointments for new staff and to prepare the network for EU-mandated liberalisation in 2032.
National operator SNCB/NMBS is running an ‘alternative timetable’ based on the staff available each day. On Monday three out of four InterCity (IC) services and two out of three local (L/S) services operated; very few peak-hour (P) trains are expected all week. The reduced offering is published only 24 hours in advance on the company’s journey-planner, making forward planning difficult for commuters and business travellers. (brusselstimes.com)
If the strike leaves you rerouting through multiple countries, you may suddenly need new or updated travel documents. VisaHQ can help streamline that process: its online platform lets you apply for Belgian visas, extend existing ones, or arrange documents for neighbouring nations at short notice. Check the dedicated Belgium page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) for current requirements and expedited service options—handy when a missed train forces an unexpected international detour.
![Belgium’s five-day national rail strike launches, disrupting domestic and cross-border travel]()
International passengers also face headaches. Eurostar, TGV INOUÏ, ICE and Thalys/Ouigo trains continue to run but warn of cascading delays or re-routing when Belgian connections are missed. Travellers are advised to allow extra buffer time and to download disruption certificates needed for expense claims or visa-compliance paperwork. (brusselstimes.com)
Business-critical cargo is similarly exposed: automotive plants in Flanders that rely on just-in-time rail freight have shifted to road transport, while logistics providers report longer transit times to Zeebrugge and Antwerp ports. Hotels around Brussels-Midi report a spike in last-minute bookings from stranded passengers.
For global-mobility managers the strike is a stress-test of contingency plans. Companies with travellers in Belgium should register staff on live-alert apps, advise them to keep tickets and receipts for reimbursement, and consider re-routing via Lille, Eindhoven or Düsseldorf airports if onward rail legs are essential. Employers with posted workers must remember that Belgium requires proof of ‘force-majeure residence’ when visa holders over-stay because of transport strikes – disruption certificates downloaded from SNCB’s website usually suffice.
The dispute highlights a broader European trend: transport unions are increasingly willing to mount prolonged strikes to influence pending market-opening reforms. With the next negotiating round not scheduled until mid-February, further stoppages in spring cannot be ruled out.
National operator SNCB/NMBS is running an ‘alternative timetable’ based on the staff available each day. On Monday three out of four InterCity (IC) services and two out of three local (L/S) services operated; very few peak-hour (P) trains are expected all week. The reduced offering is published only 24 hours in advance on the company’s journey-planner, making forward planning difficult for commuters and business travellers. (brusselstimes.com)
If the strike leaves you rerouting through multiple countries, you may suddenly need new or updated travel documents. VisaHQ can help streamline that process: its online platform lets you apply for Belgian visas, extend existing ones, or arrange documents for neighbouring nations at short notice. Check the dedicated Belgium page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) for current requirements and expedited service options—handy when a missed train forces an unexpected international detour.
International passengers also face headaches. Eurostar, TGV INOUÏ, ICE and Thalys/Ouigo trains continue to run but warn of cascading delays or re-routing when Belgian connections are missed. Travellers are advised to allow extra buffer time and to download disruption certificates needed for expense claims or visa-compliance paperwork. (brusselstimes.com)
Business-critical cargo is similarly exposed: automotive plants in Flanders that rely on just-in-time rail freight have shifted to road transport, while logistics providers report longer transit times to Zeebrugge and Antwerp ports. Hotels around Brussels-Midi report a spike in last-minute bookings from stranded passengers.
For global-mobility managers the strike is a stress-test of contingency plans. Companies with travellers in Belgium should register staff on live-alert apps, advise them to keep tickets and receipts for reimbursement, and consider re-routing via Lille, Eindhoven or Düsseldorf airports if onward rail legs are essential. Employers with posted workers must remember that Belgium requires proof of ‘force-majeure residence’ when visa holders over-stay because of transport strikes – disruption certificates downloaded from SNCB’s website usually suffice.
The dispute highlights a broader European trend: transport unions are increasingly willing to mount prolonged strikes to influence pending market-opening reforms. With the next negotiating round not scheduled until mid-February, further stoppages in spring cannot be ruled out.
