Air and rail strike across popular European destination set to cause disruption for locals and tourists
Travellers heading to and from Belgium are being warned to expect significant disruption this week as nationwide strikes affect both rail services and flights.
Rail workers are currently striking, with action beginning on Sunday 8 March in protest of the government's labour and pensions reforms.
The walkout is set to continue until the end of services on Wednesday, 11 March.
And a nationwide strike is also scheduled to take place on Thursday, 12 March, which is expected to cause disruption to flights.
The walkouts have been organised by unions representing railway staff across the country.
During the stoppage, most long-distance rail journeys will continue to run, although travellers are warned to prepare for higher levels of cancellations on local services.
According to state operator SNCB, a 'limited number' of trains will run throughout the strikes, with services operating according to an alternative timetable based on staff availability.
Travellers heading to and from Belgium are cautioned to expect disruption to their rail and air journeys this week amid nationwide strikes (Pictured: Gare du Midi - Zuidstation (Brussels South)
The three-day strike has been organised by unions representing railway staff across the country, in protest of the government's labour and pensions reforms
In addition, Eurostar said it had reduced the number of services operating between Brussels and Paris on Monday, 9 March.
However, it expected to run a 'near-normal' timetable between London and Brussels.
The international rail operator cautioned that domestic train services within Belgium are likely to be disrupted, which could have a knock-on effect on onward journeys.
Brussels Airport is set to experience 'major' disruption from Thursday's strike due to security and ground handling staff walking out.
In a statement, as reported by Business Travel News Europe, the airport said: 'To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, we have decided, in consultation with the airlines, not to operate any departing flights on 12 March.
'In the upcoming days, the airlines will contact passengers directly to inform them of their options. As departing passenger flights are cancelled, cancellations of some arriving flights are possible.'
The latest round of nationwide strikes in Belgium follows other walkouts staged across Europe this year, causing travel chaos across popular hubs.
In February, public transport workers across Germany staged a 48-hour strike in protest over pay and working conditions.
The industrial action began on February 27th, impacting buses, trams and trains.
It continued into Saturday, February 28th, in various areas across the country.
The two-day transport shutdown was said to have affected millions of passengers - both tourists and locals - in popular cities including Berlin and Hamburg.
During the same month, travel disruption also hit Italy, with the country's national carrier cancelling more than half its flights.
Staff staged a 24-hour walkout on Thursday, February 26 - impacting more than 100,000 passengers across an estimated 750 flights.
Personnel at ITA Airways and easyJet joined the strike, including pilots, cabin crew and airport ground staff.
