Brussels public transport operator STIB is expecting "severe disruption" on its network due to the demonstration against European austerity measures in the Belgian capital on Tuesday 12 March, predicting that just two metros will run.
Several unions are calling for people to participate in the demonstration against the European austerity measures, which is taking place in Brussels on Tuesday.
"Bus, tram and metro traffic risk being severely disrupted by staff participating in this action, and because the demonstration will pass the route of several lines. It is currently impossible to estimate the extent of the disruption," STIB said in a press release. Passengers are advised to find alternative means of transport to get around Brussels on Tuesday.
Around 17:00 on Monday, STIB announced that metro lines 1 and 5 would likely be the only ones running on Tuesday at 06:00. For trams, the operator expects lines 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 18, 51 and 92 to run as well. In terms of bus lines, 12, 36, 46 (between Moortebeek and Anneesens), 50, 53, 56, 59, 71, 87 (between Beekkant-Elbers and Hunderenveld-Étangs Noirs) and 95 should also be operated.
"However, this information will not be able to be confirmed in real-time until tomorrow morning," STIB stressed on social media. "At the moment, we cannot say for sure which lines will effectively run. Some additional bus lines could possibly be added to the list. In any case, frequencies will be lower than on a normal day."
From 06:00, passengers will be informed about the disruptions in real time via the operator's website, the STIB app, its social media and via the screens at stops and in stations. Also from 06:00, the Customer Care service will also be available to answer questions via social media and on the phone at 070-23.2000.
Other operators
Walloon public transport operator TEC is also expecting disruptions on its network due to the demonstration on Tuesday, it announced on its website. "Trade unions are participating in a day of action and have issued advance notice for the staff who will be taking part."
Information about cancelled routes is already available on TEC's website and will be regularly updated on Tuesday. The cancelled lines or stops will be crossed out on the timetable and marked "This journey is not guaranteed"/"Cancelled".
"We recommend that our passengers find an alternative for their journeys on 12 March," the operator announced. "The TEC apologises for any inconvenience caused by these disruptions."
Credit: Belga
Public transport operators SNCB and De Lijn are not expecting significant disruptions to their services on Tuesday.
"We are unaware of structural participation among our personnel, but it is possible that individual staff members will decide to participate," Bart Crols, spokesperson for Belgian railway operator SNCB, told The Brussels Times. "However, it is possible that more people will be on the trains to Brussels than usual."
Flemish public transport operator De Lijn has not received any indication from trade unions that its staff will participate either, a spokesperson confirmed to The Brussels Times.
"It is possible that, among the subcontractors who drive for De Lijn, some people will make a last-minute decision to participate in the demonstration tomorrow, but for now, we have no knowledge of structural participation," he said.
European austerity measures?
Unions will be taking to the streets of Brussels to protest against strict European budget rules. "The Covid-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine put austerity on the back burner, but now it has returned," the FGTB/ABVV socialist union warned.
Under European rules, each Member State can have a maximum annual deficit of 3% and a maximum total debt ratio of 60%. However, about half of the eurozone is above 60%. To comply with the rules, Belgium would have to save €4 billion a year for seven years, or €7 billion a year for four years – this means €7 billion in 2025, €14 billion in 2026, €21 billion in 2027 and €28 billion in 2028.
"To give you an idea of what these figures mean, €28 billion is three times the budget provided for hospitals, seven times the annual government support to SNCB and more than the budget for education," the union said. "This is how the (social) government is dismantled. You do not need to be an economist to know that our rights will come under heavy pressure."
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These measures have yet to be finally adopted by Europe, and Belgium has not yet taken a clear position. "There are, of course, different ways to reduce debt. You can increase revenue, reduce spending or a combination of both, depending on the balance of power within the government," the socialist union said.
They stressed that the outcome of the upcoming elections will be "crucial" in determining what revenues and balances will be found.
"We are arguing for more Europe, but a social Europe. A Europe with a strong social fabric, where no one is left out in the cold, a Europe that has learnt its lessons from the Covid-19 crisis, that invests in its industry, that relocates its businesses, that invests in healthcare and that receives migrants properly," they said. "That is why we will make our voices heard on the streets of Brussels on 12 March."
Updated: This article was updated on Monday at 17:15 following STIB's predictions of which lines will be running on Tuesday.
