Advertisement

Anti-austerity strikes hit European train services

Author thumbnail
Anti-austerity strikes hit European train services
Photo: DPA

All high-speed Thalys rail services between Belgium and Germany will be cancelled Wednesday due to Europe-wide anti-austerity protests, with other connections to France and the Netherlands also disrupted.

Advertisement

Thalys said in a statement Tuesday that travellers booked on trains running between Belgium and Germany could exchange their tickets or ask for full reimbursement.

Ticket-holders planning to travel to other destinations Wednesday should check thalys.com for possible disruptions due to the protests.

Trade unions across Europe have made Wednesday a day of action against austerity.

In Belgium, rail traffic is expected to be hardest hit after trade unions called for protests in different sectors throughout the day.

In Spain and bailed-out neighbour Portugal, the main unions have called general strikes which threaten to bring both countries to a standstill after massive protests earlier in the year.

Greece, the epicentre of the debt crisis, will see another day of demonstrations while French unions plan action too on a day of solidarity "with the countries in greatest difficulty".

Smaller protests are expected in Italy.

AFP/bk

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also