Belgium Transport Strike TODAY October 12, 2026: Trains, Trams, Buses & Metro All Down — Brussels Airport Flights Operating Normally But ZERO Public Transport to Terminal — How to Get There by Car, Taxi and Shuttle Right Now
Published on : 12 Oct 2026
🚨 IF YOU ARE FLYING FROM BRUSSELS AIRPORT TODAY — DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GET THERE BY TRAIN, TRAM, BUS OR METRO. ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS STRIKE-AFFECTED. READ THIS BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
A nationwide public-sector strike is underway across Belgium today, Monday October 12, 2026, bringing the country’s entire public transport network to a standstill. Trains, trams, buses, and metro services are all disrupted by industrial action that began at 22:00 on Sunday October 11 — meaning the disruption was already active from last night. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its Belgium travel advice on October 7 to warn travellers specifically about today’s strike. The good news for passengers with Brussels Airport flights: the airport itself has confirmed that air traffic is currently expected to operate normally — flights are taking off and landing on schedule. The critical problem is getting to and from the terminal. Brussels Airport is served primarily by the Brussels Airport Express train — which operates no services today. The Diabolo rail link — the direct underground rail connection between Brussels-North, Brussels-Central, Brussels-Midi, and the airport — is closed for the duration of the strike. Every bus route serving the airport is also disrupted. The only way to reach Brussels Airport today is by private car, taxi, rideshare, or dedicated airport shuttle. This article tells you exactly what your options are, how much they cost, how long they take, and what to do if the transport situation means you miss your flight.
Published: October 12, 2026 — Monday
Strike Type: Nationwide Belgian public-sector strike
Strike Began: 22:00 Sunday October 11, 2026
Strike Affects:
🔴 SNCB/NMBS (Belgian Rail): ALL trains — including Brussels Airport Express — SUSPENDED
🔴 STIB/MIVB (Brussels Metro, Tram, Bus): ALL services SUSPENDED or severely disrupted
🔴 De Lijn (Flemish buses + trams): SEVERELY disrupted
✅ Brussels Airport flights: Operating normally — air traffic unaffected
✅ Eurostar London–Brussels: Check eurostar.com — may be disrupted at Brussels end
FCDO Updated Advice: October 7, 2026 — warns specifically of today’s Belgian strike
Airport Statement: Air traffic currently expected to operate normally
Your Only Options to Reach BRU Today: Private car | Taxi | Rideshare (Uber/Bolt) | Coach shuttle
Allow extra time: Significant additional road traffic expected as thousands of travellers divert from rail to road simultaneously
What Is Happening — The Belgian Public Sector Strike
Why Belgium Is Striking Today
Belgium’s public sector unions have called a national strike for Monday October 12, 2026, in a dispute over wages, working conditions, and government austerity measures affecting federal workers. Public-sector strikes in Belgium are a recurring feature of the country’s industrial relations landscape — Belgium has one of the most unionised workforces in Europe, and the national strike mechanism gives unions the ability to shut down transport networks with legal protection for striking workers.
Today’s strike covers federal, regional, and local public services — which in Belgium includes the national rail operator SNCB/NMBS, the Brussels regional transport authority STIB/MIVB (which operates the metro, trams, and city buses), the Flemish transport network De Lijn, and the Walloon transport network TEC. When all four networks strike simultaneously, Belgium’s public transport system effectively ceases to function.
Rail Action Began at 22:00 Last Night
Crucially for passengers who may have been planning early morning travel today: rail action started at 22:00 on Sunday 11 October — before midnight. This means the last normal SNCB services on Sunday evening were the final trains before the strike took effect. Any passenger who went to bed Sunday night planning to catch an early morning train to Brussels Airport today is already in a disrupted situation.
The FCDO had updated its advice on October 7 — five days before the strike — to warn British travellers specifically about the disruption. If you are reading this having missed the FCDO warning, the practical information below is what you need now.
Brussels Airport — Flights Operating, But Getting There Is the Problem
The Airport Is Open — Flights Are Normal
Brussels Airport confirmed that air traffic is currently expected to operate normally. Ryanair, Brussels Airlines, easyJet, Wizz Air, British Airways, American Airlines, Delta, Lufthansa, and all other carriers operating from Brussels Airport (BRU) are flying today. Gates are open. Check-in is operating. Security is processing passengers. The airport is functionally normal — it is simply an island that cannot be reached by public transport.
The Brussels Airport Express Is Not Running
The Brussels Airport Express — officially train line 12, also known as the Diabolo service — is the primary public transport connection between Brussels city centre and the airport. Under normal operations, it runs every 15–30 minutes from Brussels-Nord (Brussel-Noord), Brussels-Central (Brussel-Centraal), and Brussels-Midi (Brussel-Zuid/Gare du Midi) directly to the Brussels Airport terminal station. Journey time from Brussels-Midi is approximately 20–25 minutes.
Today, none of these trains are running. The Diabolo rail link is suspended for the duration of the strike. There are no airport trains.
No Bus Services to the Airport
Brussels Airport is also served by several bus routes — including Flibco international airport coaches and De Lijn regional buses. De Lijn services are severely disrupted today. The standard bus alternatives to the train are not operating reliably.
🚗 How to Get to Brussels Airport TODAY
Option 1 — Taxi or Private Hire Car
Taxis and private hire cars (Uber, Bolt) are the most reliable option today but will be in extremely high demand. Every passenger who normally uses the train is now competing for the same taxis and rideshare vehicles simultaneously.
Key taxi information:
Official Brussels Airport taxi: Fixed tariff from Brussels city centre (Petit Ring) to BRU — approximately €45–€55 one way (metered taxis may charge more in traffic)
Uber/Bolt: Available from Brussels — expect surge pricing today due to high demand from strike-affected travellers — budget €50–€80
Journey time: 25–40 minutes from central Brussels in normal traffic, 60–90 minutes or more today as road traffic surges with everyone diverting from rail
Book NOW if you have not already — rideshare availability will deteriorate through the morning as demand peaks.
Flibco operates dedicated coach services between Brussels city centre and Brussels Airport. Check flibco.com immediately for whether Flibco services are operating today — Flibco runs private coaches, not public transport, so it may be less affected by the public sector strike than SNCB and De Lijn.
Journey time: Approximately 40–60 minutes (longer today due to road congestion)
Booking: flibco.com | Available on the day but book in advance if possible today
Option 3 — Private Car (Drop-Off)
If you have a car available or someone who can drive you, drop-off at Brussels Airport is straightforward. The drop-off zone is directly in front of the Departures terminal.
Parking note: Kiss-and-ride drop-off is free for the first 10 minutes. If your driver needs to wait, short-stay parking is available — P1 Level -2 (covered) or P2 (open air).
Driving from Brussels city centre:
Via E40: Exit 3 Brussels Airport — approximately 20–25 km from Grand Place
If you are travelling from London today, Eurostar services between London St Pancras and Brussels-Midi may be operating — Eurostar operates its own trains on dedicated infrastructure and is not subject to SNCB strikes in the same way. However, check eurostar.com for today’s service status — Eurostar’s Brussels-Midi terminal operations may be affected by ground staff participation in the strike.
If Eurostar is running and you arrive at Brussels-Midi, you will need a taxi or Flibco to the airport (see Options 1 and 2 above).
Eurostar UK customer service: 03432 186 186 | eurostar.com
⏰ How Much Extra Time to Allow — Urgency Guide
Your Normal Transport
Today’s Alternative
Extra Time Needed
Brussels Airport Express (20 min)
Taxi/rideshare in heavy traffic
Allow 90–120 minutes extra
Metro + train combination
Taxi or Flibco only
Allow 90–120 minutes extra
Bus to airport
Taxi or Flibco only
Allow 60–90 minutes extra
Private car (normal)
Private car (heavy traffic)
Allow 30–45 minutes extra
Bottom line for every Brussels Airport passenger today: Add at least 90 minutes to your normal airport journey time. If your check-in closes 45 minutes before departure and your flight is at 11:00 AM, you need to be at the airport by 10:15 AM at the latest — which means leaving Brussels city centre no later than 08:30 AM by taxi, allowing for traffic.
🛡️ What If You Miss Your Flight Because of the Strike?
The Compensation Question
The Belgian public sector strike is an external event — a government-driven action involving workers who are not employed by the airlines. Under EU261 and UK261:
❌ Cash compensation (€250–€600) does NOT apply — strike causing transport disruption to the airport = passenger’s risk to reach the airport on time, not the airline’s responsibility
However:
✅ If your AIRLINE cancels your flight today for any reason (not because you missed it): full cash refund or free rebooking applies
✅ If you miss your flight because of strike transport disruption: contact your airline and travel insurer immediately
Your Travel Insurance — Critical Today
This is where travel insurance matters enormously. Many comprehensive travel insurance policies include coverage for:
Missed departure: If public transport disruption causes you to miss your flight, some policies will cover the cost of rebooking or alternative transport
Check your policy wording for “missed departure due to public transport disruption” or “strike affecting access to airport”
If you are covered: File a claim documenting the Belgian transport strike (screenshot FCDO advice, transport authority announcements), your evidence of attempting to reach the airport (taxi receipt, Uber/Bolt confirmation), and your missed flight boarding pass.
If you are not covered: Contact your airline’s customer service desk. Some carriers — particularly easyJet and Ryanair, who operate heavily from BRU — may offer compassionate rebooking in strike situations, though this is not guaranteed.
The Rest of Belgium Today — Beyond the Airport
The transport disruption today extends well beyond Brussels Airport access. If you are already in Belgium and planning any travel by public transport:
Brussels Metro, Tram, Bus (STIB/MIVB): All services severely disrupted or suspended. The central Brussels metro stations — De Brouckère, Gare Centrale, Louise — are not operational today.
Intercity trains (SNCB/NMBS): No reliable intercity rail service today. Brussels to Bruges, Brussels to Ghent, Brussels to Antwerp, Brussels to Liège — all disrupted.
Thalys Paris–Brussels: Check thalys.com — international Thalys services may be separately affected.
If you are staying in Belgium today and have no urgent transport need: Stay put and wait. The strike is a one-day action — services are expected to resume tomorrow Tuesday October 13.
Charleroi Airport (CRL) — Separate Note
Your existing sitemap contains the September 17 Charleroi Airport ATC strike article. Today’s Belgium transport strike is entirely separate from that story. Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) — 60 km south of Brussels — is also affected by the general transport disruption in that ground transport access to CRL (buses, shuttles from Brussels-Midi) is disrupted. Flibco operates coaches to Charleroi Airport separately — check flibco.com for CRL-specific status. Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Volotea operate from CRL; all airlines there are operating flights normally.
🔑 Key Resources for Today
Resource
Contact / Link
Brussels Airport Live Status
brusselsairport.be
Flibco Airport Coach
flibco.com
Taxis Verts Brussels
taxisverts.be
Taxis Bleus Brussels
taxisbleus.be
Uber Brussels
uber.com
Bolt Brussels
bolt.eu
Eurostar Status
eurostar.com
Brussels Airlines
brusselsairlines.com
Ryanair Flight Status
ryanair.com/flight-status
easyJet
easyjet.com
British Airways
ba.com
FCDO Belgium Travel Advice
gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/belgium
SNCB/NMBS Strike Info
belgiantrain.be
STIB/MIVB Strike Info
stib-mivb.be
Bottom Line
Belgium is on strike today — Monday October 12, 2026. Trains, trams, buses, and metro services are all suspended or severely disrupted from 22:00 last night. Brussels Airport is open and flights are operating normally. The only problem is getting there. The Brussels Airport Express train is not running. No bus services are operating reliably. Your only options are taxi, Uber/Bolt, Flibco coach, or private car — all of which will take significantly longer than normal due to the surge in road traffic from passengers diverting from rail.
The FCDO warned about this strike on October 7. If you are reading this now, act immediately.
The five things to do right now:
Book a taxi or Uber/Bolt immediately — demand is surging and availability is tightening by the hour
Check Flibco (flibco.com) for airport coach availability — it may be less impacted than public buses
Allow at least 90–120 extra minutes on top of your normal airport journey time
Check your travel insurance for missed departure coverage due to public transport strikes
If you miss your flight: go to your airline’s desk in the terminal for rebooking options — and file a travel insurance claim today with documentation of the strike
As a lead contributor for Travel Tourister, Vinay is dedicated to serving our Tier 1 audience (US, UK, Canada, Australia). His mission is to deliver precise, fact-checked news and actionable, data-driven articles that empower readers to make informed decisions, minimize travel risks, and maximize their adventure without compromising safety or budget.
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