Labour Unions have announced possible strikes on the Belgian railway network on Wednesday 6and Thursday 7 January 2016. Other strikes (previously announced on 21, 22 and 23 January) have been cancelled.
At this moment, it would be premature to make accurate and comprehensive forecasts on the impact of these strikes on the international rail traffic, if these strikes were to be confirmed.
Rail carriers have already announced the following measures:
Thalys
- Tuesday 5 January: the following trains would be cancelled:
– Thalys 9393 (Paris Nord 21:25 – Brussels-Midi 22:47)
– Thalys 9394 (Brussels-Midi 22:13 – Paris Nord 23:35). - Wednesday 6 January: all Thalys services would be cancelled.
- Thursday 7 January: all Thalys services would be cancelled, except Thalys 9387 (Paris Nord 20:25 – Brussels-Midi 21:47) and 9393 (Paris Nord 21:25 – Brussels-Midi 22:47).
Eurostar
- On Tuesday 5 January, the latest Eurostar service to Brussels (9158 London St-Pancras 19:34 – Brussels-Midi 22:38) would terminate at Lille Europe.
- On Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 Januari, no Eurostar trains would be operated between Brussels-Midi and Lille Europe.
Eurostar tickets for 5, 6 and 7 January can be fully refunded through the original point of sales, or changed free of charge within 60 days for an alternative date within 120 days.
TGV® Brussels-France
- On Tuesday 5 January, TGV® 9882/9883 (Marseille St-Charles 17:14 – Brussel-Zuid 22:57) would be terminating at Lille Europe.
- On Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 January, no TGV® Brussels-France services would be operated between Brussels-Midi and Lille Europe.
ICE Brussels-Cologne-Frankfurt
- On Tuesday 5 January, ICE nr. 10 (Frankfurt Hbf. 18:29 – Brussels-Midi 21:35) would terminate at Liège-Guillemins (arrival 20:44).
- On Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 January, no ICE trains would be operated between Brussels and Aachen.
- On Friday 8 January, ICE nr. 11 (Brussels-Midi 6:25 – Köln Hbf 8:15 – Frankfurt Hbf 9:30) would depart from Liège-Guillemins.
InterCity, EuroCity en regionale treinen
Possible impact still to be determined.
Travellers can exchange or cancel their tickets for the impacted Thalys services without cost through their original point of sales.
https://www.b-europe.com/Travel/Practical/Alerts