Public transport in the Brussels-Capital Region is "significantly disrupted" on Monday due to an action by a joint union front in support of workers at the Audi factory in Forest.
Currently, the STIB network is "disrupted due to a national strike", after unions invited STIB staff to take part in the mobilisation on Monday to denounce the job losses in the industrial sector in Belgium.
"Today's national strike is having a significant impact on our entire network, across all modes of transport, throughout the day. We regret the inconvenience this may have caused you," STIB said in a statement on Monday.
What is the situation on the ground?
Due to the strike action, frequencies on the STIB network are lower than on a normal day, with disruptions expected to last throughout the day, the transport operator said on Monday.
Only Metro lines 1 and 5 are currently running, the rest are all suspended. Tram lines 3, 4, 7, 8 (tram and T-bus), 9, 18, 51 and 92 are still operating, but with severe delays.
Bus lines 12, 29, 36, 37, 45, 46, 50, 53, 54, 56, 58, 59, 60, 65, 71, 73, 79, 87 and 95 are still operational. Line 12 serves all stops on its route, while Line 87 has been extended from Simonis to Etangs Noirs.
🔴 GRÈVE NATIONALE - situation à 6h Les lignes suivantes ROULENT: 🚇 METRO 1 et 5 🚋 TRAM 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 18, 51 et 92 🚌 BUS 12, 36, 37, 45, 46, 50, 53, 59, 65, 71, 73, 87 (prolongée Étangs Noirs) et 95 📝 Attestation de perturbations : FR : https://t.co/bQ9seDe1Lv EN :… pic.twitter.com/bRgCODhuHk
— STIB-MIVB (@STIBMIVB) September 16, 2024
All other lines are not running, STIB confirmed.
SNCB trains are, however, running normally. "The trains might be a bit fuller, but we are not expecting any strike-related disruptions on Monday," a spokesperson told The Brussels Times last week.
Brussels commuters can stay up to date with the public transport operator's website stib.brussels and in the mobile app. Passengers are also invited to download STIB's app Floya, which combines all transport options in Brussels, in order to look for an alternative such as a shared bike or car.
Flemish and Walloon bus operators De Lijn and TEC, respectively, staff are not participating in the strike.
Brussels Police have warned people to avoid the area of Brussels' inner ring, as well as the adjacent streets, between the Boulevard du Jardin Botanique and Place du Trône.
