NMBS boss talks privatisation as Monday’s strike looms

Rail unions have expressed anger over Belgian rail boss Jo Cornu’s letter to staff, which threatened them with privatisation if the company’s financial situation doesn’t improve.

Cornu had written to staff informing them that the NMBS was in a “perilous state” and that the government might have to privatise the network. Unions were already angry at the CEO for making a comment earlier this month that rail staff should work harder.

Federal employment minister Peeters responded to the letter by saying that “there is no reason to spread panic. It doesn’t help the railways, or the passengers or the government”.

The unions said that the letter was “not what we had expected”. One union spokesperson said that privatisation would lead to higher fares, cut passenger numbers and force more cars on the roads at a time when the government is trying to ease traffic congestion.

1 December strike

Meanwhile, the rail operator is predicting “massive disruption of national and international services” next Monday, 1 December, when another provincial strike will take place across Belgium.

The strikes will take place across West Flanders, East Flanders, Namur and Liège, but disruption is expected across the entire Belgian network beginning on Sunday at 22.00.

NMBS has said that Thalys trains will run as normal between Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, but no trains will run to Germany. The Eurostar service is also expected to run normally at this point, though travellers are advised to check the NMBS website for updates.

More widespread disruption is due on 8 December when strikes will take place in Flemish Brabant, Brussels and Walloon Brabant. On 15 December, a nationwide strike will bring the country’s transport services to a standstill. Thalys and Eurostar trains are not expected to run through Brussels on either of those days.

photo courtesy Het Nieuwsblad