Brussels Metro suspended after terror threat

[thenorthern]

Just looking at the newspapers it seems that the Brussels Metro has been closed for 2 days and is likely to be closed tomorrow while there is a security alert in the City.

I feel sorry for the Belgians as its like for London having to closed the London Underground which would bring the city to a stand still.

The Eurostar is still running to Brussels from London although they have advised that trains could be canceled at short notice.

 

[atillathehunn]

Mechelen station was evacuated about 2 hours go or so due to a bomb scare.

I listened to the news a minute ago and there is now a strike planned in the Francophile region, so all trains through Charleroi and Namur likely to be cancelled.

Brussels Schuman station is closed and likely to remain closed for the duration. Trains are cancelled regularly and without pattern.

The major Brussels stations have been closed at various times.

Shops are closed, and the advise is to stay away from windows.

There's a lot of fear.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's interesting (if very slightly OT) that this doesn't seem to have rubbed off on London, despite it clearly being under some threat as such a famous global city (albeit not this specific threat). I was there today with a group of Scouts and the only visible additional security was a fairly cursory manual bag check at the Natural History Museum (which they may well do anyway and I forgot about it). Nothing visible at Euston to preside over the Euston scrum, which was in full force as usual.

I must admit (again referring to another thread) this is one of those cases where duplication of rail routes by bus proves rather useful.

 

[Quakkerillo]

It's not just the metro.
Also all tram lines that run underground (premetro, and just even lines 3/7 in the North which go through a small tunnel under a road) are suspended on their tunnel parts.

I live here. Uni is cancelled, the city is deserted. I went to a shop today, and there were hardly people outside.

To me it is strange that trains are running as normal, becuase why is the risk higher for metro than for trains? Especially since trains also go through tunnels (North-South, Luxembourg-Schuman, near Brussels Airport).

I do hope it's over soon, and we'll have to see what tomorrow will bring to the city, without good transport.

About rail routes being duplicated by buses, doesn't help here. Some bus/tram drivers refused to work out of fear Saturday, resulting in only 10 bus lines in Brussels running (should be about 40-50).

 

[duesselmartin]

I was wondering if the Midi-Nord line is running..

 

[Groningen]

Brussel Zuid (Midi) - Noord (Nord) is train; so should run normally. There is however a kind of strike in the french speaking part of Belgium. Mainpoint is Charleroi with also no busses and metro running. This also affects some trains that run to the dutch part of Belgium. In the now 40 comments posted no one has a good word for their actions. Only the tram(s) in Brussel that run above ground run.

 

[radamfi]

Brussel Zuid (Midi) - Noord (Nord) is train; so should run normally. There is however a kind of strike in the french speaking part of Belgium. Mainpoint is Charleroi with also no busses and metro running. This also affects some trains that run to the dutch part of Belgium. In the now 40 comments posted no one has a good word for their actions. Only the tram(s) in Brussel that run above ground run.

Is the strike in French-speaking Belgium related to the terror alert? Where are these 40 comments?

 

[atillathehunn]

I wasn't aware the lot down in Charleroi needed much of an excuse to strike.

Yes there are wildcat cancellations and closures, like I mentioned yesterday.

Today there are few trains running and there is a heavy police presence. I'm in Leuven today and there is even here a quiet on the streets. Trains nor buses are running quite normally.

 

[CdBrux]

As someone who also lives in Brussels the reason given (more or less) is the police want to concentrate resources on apprehending various people and not having to guard various sites deemed higher risk. Underground transport (though not I think Brussels Centrale rail station) falls into this as did all the various local markets yesaterday.

 

[thenorthern]

The Brussels Metro is going to reopen tomorrow according to reports. It must be very bad for the Belgians as if the London Underground was closed for 4 days London and much of the United Kingdom would come to a standstill.

 

[Mag_seven]

if the London Underground was closed for 4 days London and much of the United Kingdom would come to a standstill.

Why would the rest of the UK come to standstill - how London-centric can you get!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why would the rest of the UK come to standstill - how London-centric can you get!

In any case London doesn't come to a standstill when it is closed because of a strike. Journeys just become rather more inconvenient, but people still make them.

 

[Quakkerillo]

The Brussels Metro is going to reopen tomorrow according to reports. It must be very bad for the Belgians as if the London Underground was closed for 4 days London and much of the United Kingdom would come to a standstill.

Only partially though. Out of the city centre, the metro still won't run. And on the premetro (lines 3/4/7) some stops in the city centre won't be serviced.
http://www.stib-mivb.be/irj/go/km/d...an_reseau/Metro_CHRONO_Petite_Ceinture_V2.pdf

 

[Groningen]

Is the strike in French-speaking Belgium related to the terror alert? Where are these 40 comments?

I think money, but many Belgiums find it with the terrorthreat not done to strike. Comments are in dutch. It is against the saving money policy of the government. As you might know there is a big divide between the dutch and french speaking people in Belgium. No comment supports those strikers. One comment was: the weekend was too short.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Some busdrivers of De Lijn got 50 euro extra per day, because they were too damaged emotionally to drive to Brussel.

 

[reb0118]

Some busdrivers of De Lijn got 50 euro extra per day, because they were too damaged emotionally to drive to Brussel.

I'll tell you flat & I'll tell you firmly........

I never want to go to Burnley!

Do I win get £50?