Wildcat strike stops trains to Belgium

Some trains between Maastricht and Liege and Amsterdam and Brussels were stopped on Tuesday because of a wildcat strike among groups of Belgian train conductors, rail infrastructure manager ProRail announced today.

The strike actions started in the Walloon region of Belgium Tuesday morning. One train from Maastricht to Liege and four between Amsterdam and Brussels were unable to reach their destinations before 12 noon, ProRail reported.

The train connections with Belgium continue to be uncertain. A spokesperson for ProRail says that problems should diminish in the course of the afternoon.

The conductors in many Walloon cities and Brussels are on strike to protest new incidents of abuse against train personnel. On Monday a conductor was threatened by a fare-dodger and another was beaten by a group of three youths.

Source: Expatica Netherlands, 22 January 2008