Half of the IC trains will run between the major cities. A third of the suburban S-trains and the local L-trains are running. Almost all P-trains, which are used during the morning and evening rush hours, will be cancelled. The NMBS worked out the alternative timetable on the basis of the staff – including that of rail network operator Infrabel – who have indicated that they will not participate in the strike.
In Wallonia, the nuisance will be greater than in Flanders. The NMBS indicates that there will be no train traffic at all in most of the provinces of Namur and Luxembourg, around Ottignies in Walloon Brabant and between Liège and Huy. “This is because insufficient staff is available in Infrabel’s signal boxes in Namur and Liège, which are necessary to ensure that train traffic runs safely,” it says. “Little or no trains will also stop in a number of other stations in the country.”
The NMBS advises travelers to work from home if possible and to look for an alternative. If you do take the train, it is best to consult the route planner before leaving for the station. The screens and route planner of the NMBS will only indicate the trains that are actually running.