NS strikes to affect train traffic to Brussels

NS service employees and conductors on the train between Amsterdam and Brussels are striking on Wednesday. NS expects problems for travelers to and from the Belgian capital. According to the rail company, they must take into account longer travel time, cancellation of trains, and other departure and arrival times.

The IC Brussels will only run between Breda and Brussels. Travelers from Amsterdam, The Hague, Schiphol or Rotterdam can use domestic trains to get to Breda and change trains there. They can also take the IC Direct, no surcharge will be charged for this, NS announced.

Trade unions FNV and VVMC also announced that counters will remain closed due to the strike by service employees. Assistance to travelers will be kept to a minimum. It is not yet clear how many employees will participate in these actions.

The service employees are angry about the planned reduction in service stations. The conflict among the conductors of the international trains to Brussels is about the working conditions. The unions state that these conductors are paid less than their colleagues who work at Thalys Eurostar and ICE Berlin & Nightjet.

NS regrets the actions. But the unions already indicated that it might not stop here. If the rail companies still does not comply with their demands after the strikes, the unions will consider setting up strikes in other parts of NS as well, for example among the driving personnel.