Belgium Rail Strike Disrupts Travel: What Passengers Necessitate to Know

A three-day rail strike in Belgium began Sunday evening, March 8, 2026, and is set to significantly disrupt train travel through Wednesday, March 11, 2026. While a substantial portion of intercity services will continue to operate, passengers should expect reduced schedules and plan their journeys carefully.

Strike Details and Duration

The strike, called by the socialist rail union ACOD Spoor, commenced at 10:00 p.m. On Sunday, March 8, and will conclude at 10:00 p.m. On Wednesday, March 11 . This action follows a previous strike notice in February that was rejected by HR Rail, the joint personnel body of SNCB and Infrabel, and subsequently challenged unsuccessfully in the Council of State .

Service Levels During the Strike

According to the national railway operator NMBS/SNCB, approximately seven out of ten intercity (IC) trains are expected to run on Monday, the first full day of the strike . Around half of the local L trains and suburban S trains will also operate, with a limited number of P trains running .

All P student trains were scheduled to run on Sunday evening, March 8, to facilitate students returning to university cities, including Brussels, Leuven, Ghent, Liège, and Louvain-la-Neuve .

Travel Advice for Passengers

The rail operator warns that the impact of the strike will vary daily. Passengers are strongly advised to plan their journeys in advance and consult the online journey planner for the adapted timetable, which is available on the SNCB website . It is recommended to check for updates shortly before departing .

Impact on International Trains

The strike is also affecting international train services:

• Eurostar: Eurostar is proactively notifying clients via email or SMS if their train is canceled, using the contact information provided during booking. An updated timetable of canceled trains is available on the Eurostar website .
• TGV INOUI: TGV INOUI is also communicating cancellations to passengers via email or SMS, using the contact details provided at the time of reservation. A list of canceled trains can be found on the TGV INOUI website .

Growing Frustration with Industrial Action

Railway chief Sophie Dutordoir expressed frustration earlier this year regarding the increasing frequency of strikes, stating that the repeated industrial action is “really no longer reasonable” .