Rail Strike in Belgium on 30th January 2012

Rail Strike in Belgium on 30th January 2012

We have been advised of an SNCB (Belgian Railways) strike, which will take place in Belgium on Monday 30th January 2012, starting at 22:00 on Sunday 29th until 22:00 on Monday 30th January 2012.

Domestic train services and other public transport in Belgium are likely to be impacted.

Please see below for information on service disruptions and after-sales.

EUROSTAR:

The following London to and from Brussels trains are closed for sale on 30th January:

9173 , 9159, 9177, 9179, 9187, 9180, 9182, 9174, 9176, 9178, 9184, 9109, 9113, 9117, 9133, 9141, 9149, 9153, 9161, 9110, 9116, 9126, 9132, 9140, 9144, 9148, 9156.

A reduced number of Eurostar services will be running trains to and from Lille on a revised timetable, wich can be viewed by clicking here

Passengers booked on the 19:04 departure from London on Sunday 29th January are advised to exchange their ticket to travel on an earlier train or on a different date, as this service will terminate in Lille with an onward bus connection to Brussels.

After-Sales:

Passengers due to travel to/from Lille or Brussels on Monday 30th January or on the 19:04 departure from London on the 29th January are advised to consider re-booking their trip for an earlier or later date.

Eurostar will allow exchanges; those who wish to re-book, should contact their original point of sale.

Customers who are unable to travel can get a full refund for their tickets, regardless of the after-sales specified on the ticket. This can be done anytime in the next 2 months via the original point of sale.

THALYS:

No Thalys services will operate between 22:00hrs on Sunday 29th and 22:00hrs on Monday 30th January. We do not yet know whether there will be alternative transport arranged for passengers booked to travel during this time.

The following Thalys trains are closed for sale:

• Sunday 29th: 9394, 9389, 9397, 9399, 9487

• Monday 30th: All Thalys trains

Passengers with tickets valid to travel between 20:00hrs on Sunday 29th and 23:59hrs on Monday 30th January can get a free exchange or refund on their original ticket, regardless off the after-sales stated on the original ticket.

Exchanges can be requested up until 10th February inclusive, for travel between 27th January and 29th February 2012. Travel between 20:00hrs on 29th and 23:59 on 30th January is excluded.

TGV BRUSSELS-PROVINCES:

TGV Brussels-Provinces services are likely to be disrupted on Monday 30th January 2012. We have not yet received the Transport Plan from the SNCF. Services will be closed for sales.

All tickets with reservation (Public, Group and RIT, and regardless of the after-sales conditions stated on the ticket) valid for travel on a TGV Brussels-Provinces service on Monday 30th January 2012 can be used on any other train, operating on the same route as the original ticket until midnight on Tuesday 31st January 2012. Tickets cannot be used to travel the day before the strike. Seats cannot be guaranteed during this time.

Due to expected service disruptions, the timetable cannot be guaranteed.

Groups are advised not to travel during the strike.

Tickets must still be validated in the yellow machines at French stations, prior to boarding the train.

Exchanges and Refunds

Customers due to travel on a TGV Brussels-Provinces service on Monday 30th January 2012 who wish to cancel their journey, can obtain a full refund before or after departure. If a customer wishes to postpone their journey for a date after the strike, this must be processed as a full refund, followed by the sale of a new ticket. Passengers will need to pay any difference in cost between the original tickets and the new tickets.

DEUTSCHE BAHN

Customers with tickets valid to travel on an ICE service between 10pm on Sunday 29th and 10pm on Monday 30th January can get a full refund or free exchange, regardless of the after-sales conditions stated on the ticket.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or queries.