As anticipated, the national protest on Thursday has resulted in heavy disruptions on public transport networks across the country. In Brussels, just one metro and a few trams are operating while traffic will be redirected around the protest.
During the protest on Thursday, trade unions are demonstrating against a proposed law by Federal Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne that could impose a demonstration ban on so-called "rioters". It would aim to stop people who do not actually take part in a protest from using it as an excuse for violence, but it is feared that it could lead to a complete judicial ban on demonstrations.
The protest is not against any public transport company, but the joint trade union fronts (ACV/ACOD/VSOA) of Brussels, Flanders and Walloon public transport companies STIB, De Lijn and TEC have submitted a strike notice to participate, resulting in limited services.
National railway company SNCB is not participating in the action, meaning train traffic will not be heavily disrupted by the protest.
The City of Brussels warned that, as the demonstration will pass through the city centre, traffic will be adjusted along the route from 09:30 to 13:00. "Traffic disruption is expected on the small ring road (Boulevard du Jardin Botanique and Boulevard Bischoffsheim), along Boulevard de l'Empereur, and on Place Barricades, Place du Congrès, Place Albertina and Place Rouppe."
Hindrance in Brussels
As it had confirmed in the days leading to the protest, Brussels' public transport company provided an update on its services on Thursday morning on its website and social media channels.
The only metro line that is being served throughout the day is Metro line 1, which will be extended to the Erasmus metro stop.
Tweet translation: "An overview of the lines running today. Click on the link to see them in detail on our network plan in PDF."
Meanwhile, only tram lines 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 51 and 92 are running. Finally, only buses 12, 34, 36 and 46 (between Moortebeek and Anneessens), 50, 53, 56, 59, 65, 71, 73, 87 (extended from Simonis to Black Ponds), 88 and 95 will be taking passengers to their destinations on Thursday.
"All other lines are not served," STIB noted. The company will keep passengers informed about the disruption on its network in real time via its website and different social media accounts.
De Lijn disrupted
Flemish public transport company De Lijn already confirmed what limited buses and tram services would be running on Wednesday. Across Flanders, an average of 58% of all buses and trams will run.
Specifically, 44% of the scheduled coastal tram trips will run, barely half of all trips in the city of Antwerp will be carried out, while in Ghent, 65% will run.
In East Flanders, two-thirds of the planned trips will go ahead as scheduled, while in West Flanders, this figure is 56%. Finally, both in Flemish Brabant and Limburg, De Lijn expects to offer six out of ten of their rides.
The route planner will show all rides that will continue to run on Thursday, both on the De Lijn website and in the app. Rides that do not run will not be shown.
Wallonia
The staff of Walloon bus company TEC are also taking part in the action, leading to numerous disruptions on its public transport network in the south of Belgium throughout the day.
It has provided information per Walloon region – Walloon Brabant, Charleroi, Hainaut, Liège-Verviers, Namur-Luxembourg – on its website.
To see if a bus journey has been cancelled, passengers can consult the timetable for their bus line or stop here or on the TEC app. Cancelled routes will be crossed out and marked as "This journey is not ensured" or "Cancelled."
The TEC centres in Wavre and Ottignies will be closed, while those in Chastre, Jodoigne and Baulers will be open at the usual times. "In principle, all our services will be fully operational from Friday 6 October 2023," the company noted.
