major rail disruption hits belgium starting march 9
Brussel, donderdag, 26 februari 2026.
a full-scale railway strike begins in belgium on march 9, lasting 72 hours straight. acod spoor calls the action to protest pension reforms and the end of permanent hiring. the strike affects every nmbs, infrabel and hr rail location nationwide. it directly impacts international routes, causing severe delays and cancellations for dutch passengers too. since last year, belgian railways have seen over 30 strike days. critics question whether hitting travellers helps the cause. the government has paused talks and pushed forward its reform bill. a large national protest is planned one day after the strike ends.
belgium faces major rail disruption in early march
A new railway strike has been announced in Belgium, affecting travel across the country and beyond. The union ACOD Spoor declared a three-day industrial action starting Sunday 8 March at 22:00 and ending Wednesday 11 March at 22:00 [1]. The strike covers all staff of NMBS, Infrabel and HR Rail across the entire network [2]. Passengers should expect widespread cancellations and delays during this period.
strike motivated by opposition to government reforms
The union is protesting against proposed changes to pensions and the elimination of permanent contracts for new hires [3]. According to internal communications, the leadership believes these reforms undermine public rail services [1]. Union members argue that recent government measures threaten job security and retirement benefits [4]. The strike aims to pressure policymakers to reconsider these proposals.
cross-border effects felt in the netherlands
Although the strike takes place in Belgium, Dutch travelers face significant disruptions. International train connections between the Netherlands and Belgium will be heavily impacted [1]. Services such as those connecting Amsterdam to Brussels and Antwerp are likely to be canceled or severely delayed [2]. Commuters and leisure travelers alike are advised to seek alternative transport options ahead of the strike period.
rising criticism over frequency of strikes
With 31 strike days recorded since January 2025, concerns are growing about the impact on passenger trust [4]. Transport users group TreinTramBus expressed frustration, calling the situation “particularly unpleasant for train travelers” [1]. A representative questioned the strategic value of repeated actions, noting they harm public perception of rail transport [2]. Frequent disruptions may deter long-term ridership growth.
government halts negotiations after failed agreements
Despite two prior provisional deals reached last year, union memberships rejected the terms [3]. Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke responded by suspending further discussions [2]. His legislative proposal has now passed cabinet review and awaits parliamentary consideration [4]. With dialogue stalled, both sides remain entrenched ahead of the upcoming industrial action.
national demonstration scheduled immediately after strike
One day after the strike concludes, a broad coalition plans a major protest in Brussels on Thursday 12 March [1]. While ACOD Spoor participates in the walkout, other unions like ACV Transcom chose not to join, prioritizing the larger mobilization [2]. Organizers hope to unite various sectors in opposing government labor policies, making this a pivotal moment in ongoing social debates.