Railways escape school outing chaos

This morning’s rush-hour on the railways passed off “virtually problem-free” despite strikes, according to the rail authority SNCB. Flanders was mainly unaffected by the industrial action, aside from the Antwerp-Charleroi train stopping in Brussels. Meanwhile in Wallonia, stations were blocked by protesting workers in Charleroi, Liège, Ottignies, Tournai and Mons. Thalys and ICE trains were held up when crossing the Belgian-German border, and international trains were also disrupted in Liège and Brussels. The strike concerns mainly workers of the rail infrastructure company Infrabel, and was called by the socialist trade union ACOD-CGSP in protest at increased night and weekend work. Earlier in the week the SNCB advised passengers to avoid travelling if possible, and criticised the strike’s effect on the planned end-of-term school outings of 23,000 schoolchildren, as well as on 36,000 airline passengers due to head off on holiday today via Brussels Airport. While the action continues, passengers are advised to consult www.railtime.be for real-time travel information.