Belgium Nationwide Transport Strike Enters Second Day, Trains and Buses Suspended
BRUSSELS — Belgium's nationwide public transport strike continued into its second day on October 14, with trains, trams, buses and the metro suspended across the entire country, according to a live update published by Travel Tourister. Brussels Airport continued operating flights, but ground access was severely disrupted: taxi queues reached 45 to 90 minutes, and ride-hailing surge pricing hit three to four times normal levels, with some 12-kilometre rides costing €150 to €200.
Brussels hotels were at more than 95 percent occupancy due to stranded overnight travellers, the report said. Compensation claims under the EU's EU261 rules filed between October 12 and 14 exceeded 45,000, with more than 15,000 filed on October 14 alone. An estimated 8,000 to 12,000 UK travellers were stranded at Brussels Airport and en route, and 180 to 240 flights at other European hubs were delayed by knock-on effects.
The strike, which began on the evening of October 11, had already passed its originally expected end time, and the report said it was likely to be extended, with the end time uncertain. Brussels hosts the institutions of the European Union, and the disruption affected both cross-border commuters and air passengers.
(Source: Travel Tourister second-day strike live report)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer)／CC BY 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
