Train travelers in Belgium are facing a rocky week ahead as a strike organized by the smaller railway union METISP-Protect is set to disrupt services across the nation from March 24 to March 31, 2025. This action marks a significant challenge for passengers relying on trains for their daily commutes and travel plans.
As of Monday, March 24, the impact of the strike is already being felt, with reports indicating that only two out of three InterCity (IC) trains and three out of five suburban S-trains are operating. Peak-hour services are particularly hard-hit, with a staggering one in five trains running (according to NMBS). In addition to national routes, international services such as Eurostar have also been affected, with multiple train cancellations on routes between Brussels and major cities like Paris, London, and Amsterdam.
The strike commenced at 22:00 on March 23 and is the result of growing frustrations among railway employees over budget cuts and changes to pension policies. Farid Chkhachkhi, a representative for METISP-Protect, emphasized the situation, stating, "Railway workers have contributed for years to a solid pension fund, which has now been drained by the government. Instead of taking responsibility, they are cutting back on our people again. This is a breach of contract that we cannot accept." His words encapsulate the mounting unrest among the workforce.
The strike is structured in phases; it begins with machinists halting their work, followed by train attendants later in the week, which signals the union's tactical approach aimed at maximizing pressure on the government.
Travelers are advised to check online travel planners for updates, as NMBS (the national railway company) has developed an alternative schedule based on available staff. For Tuesday, March 25, it is projected that seven out of ten IC trains and two out of three suburban S-trains will run, although peak-hour P-trains will still only operate at one-fifth capacity.
This ongoing strike follows a series of recent labor actions by other railway unions. Just weeks prior, the smaller unions OVS and ASTB conducted a nine-day strike that underscored the urgency of these staffing and governance concerns. Meanwhile, two of the largest unions in Belgium's railway sector, ACOD Spoor and ACV-Transcom, have announced an additional eighteen strike days planned until July, indicating a long-term dispute over worker conditions and government policy.
The discontent isn’t solely confined to the current strike. A national strike has been scheduled for March 31, 2025, immediately following METISP-Protect's week of action, illustrating a growing momentum behind labor activism in the Belgian rail sector.
The transportation disruptions caused by these actions extend beyond local commuters. Passengers planning international trips have been compounded by cancellations not just on Eurostar but potentially for Eurocity trains heading for Rotterdam and Amsterdam, which are slated for suspension next week due to ongoing concerns with Dutch rail works.
As for the traveling public, navigating these disruptions will require flexibility and vigilance. Many passengers have found that outside of major routes, regional services are severely impacted, causing widespread frustrations among those who depend on timely and reliable transportation.
In short, this strike action by METISP-Protect illustrates a crucial moment in the landscape of labor relations within Belgium's railway system. As workers push back against perceived injustices in governmental policy, the ripples of their activism are likely to be felt far beyond the train stations. Each cancellation and inconvenience adds to the broader narrative of working-class struggle against austerity measures that affect livelihoods and future pensions.
With the specter of future strikes looming and government negotiations at an impasse, the question remains: how will authorities respond to the unyielding demands for fair treatment by railway workers? For now, travelers brace themselves for a week of disruption, hoping for resolution and a return to normalcy in train services.
