More rail strike disruption possible from 10-14 July

Train services in Belgium returned to normal on Sunday after a 48-hour strike - but two further walkouts have been called for next week.

Independent railway workers' union SIC has filed a strike notice from Tuesday 10 to Thursday 12 July, while another drivers' union, SACT, is urging drivers to stop work from 12-14 July. Both strikes would officially begin and end at 3.00 in the morning.

SACT said its members "massively reject" new productivity measures at the Belgian rail operator. A conciliation meeting was held in mid-June but the union said there was an "absence of a satisfactory solution".

About half of trains were cancelled on Thursday evening and all day Friday and Saturday because of a similar walkout by the CGSP trade union, which was in protest at rail personnel not being included on the federal government’s list of arduous or hazardous occupations for the calculation of public sector pensions.

It was the first time that the rail operator had to comply with new federal government regulations requiring it to provide a minimum level of service during strike action.