17 Oct 2010

Eurostar affected by 24 rail strike in Belgium

6:13 am on 17 October 2010

Eurostar will have almost no services between Britain and Brussels on Monday because of industrial action on the rail network in Belgium.

A 24-hour strike is due to begin at 2100 (BST) on Sunday and will end at 2100 (BST) on Monday.

The BBC reports a revised passenger train service will run between Lille and the UK, plus a "limited" coach service between Lille and Brussels.

However, Eurostar has urged passengers planning to travel betweenBritain and Belgium to postpone their journey if possible.

Eurostar said the strike meant it was unlikely there would be any high-speed rail connections from Brussels to destinations in France, the Netherlands and Germany.

The BBC reports a train due to leave London to Brussels at 9.34pm on Sunday has been brought forward to 5.27pm on Sunday so it arrives before the Belgian network closes.

Eurostar services between Britain and Paris will operate normally.