Strike in Belgium could affect Dutch train traffic

Train traffic between the Netherlands and Belgium will be hindered on Tuesday by a national strike in Belgium. NMBS, the Belgian counterpart of NS, advised travelers to consult the travel planners for current information about trains that have been canceled. Thalys canceled the Paris-Brussels-Dortmund train, but the fast trains between Amsterdam and Brussels are running largely on schedule.

The Eurostar between London and Amsterdam and the intercity between Brussels and Amsterdam are also running. Travelers in the Netherlands will primarily notice the consequences of the strike on the short border connections, like those between Maastricht and Liege. Trains on that route stopped running on Monday evening. Some trains between Roosendaal and Antwerp aren't running, and others only run on part of the usual route.

NS advised travelers to check travel information carefully. And also check shortly before departure whether there are any changes, the Dutch rail company said.

To limit the nuisance as much as possible, NMBS developed an alternative train service for Belgium based on the staff who said that they would work. About a third of the intercity trains between the large cities are running. There are no trains in the provinces of Liege, Luxembourg, and Namur due to a lack of staff in traffic control.