Strike closes Belgian rail links

Belgian railway workers shut down virtually the entire national rail network and disrupted international services today in protest at rail freight reforms which could cost hundreds of train drivers' jobs.

The strike was called by the Socialist trade union CGSP/ACOD in protest at the terms of new "flexible" contracts that bosses of rail operator SNCB/NMBS's freight unit are seeking to impose on staff.

The unions warned that the contracts would make it easier for bosses to lay off hundreds of train drivers and the resultant strike action coincided with the ongoing massive protests in neighbouring France.

The industrial action in both countries blocked rail transport across much of western Europe and crippled the Eurostar service from London to Brussels and the East-West Thalys route from Paris to Cologne.

Eurostar also cancelled all trains to Brussels and offered a rail replacement bus service connection to the Belgian capital from Lille in France.

The knock-on effect of the strike, expected to continue into today, caused major jams on Belgium's already congested road network.

By mid-morning, some 350 miles of traffic jams were reported around the country.