Lightning strike by Belgian train guards

6 April 2004

BRUSSELS – Train guards across Belgium called a lightning strike on Monday after one of their colleagues was killed during an argument with an angry passenger.

The train guards began their action at 6am and went back to work at 8am, severely disrupting rush-hour traffic across Belgium.

They were protesting about what they see as increasingly dangerous working conditions.

On Sunday night a guard died at Brussels’ central station when he fell into the path of a moving train following a violent disagreement with an angry customer.

Guards union’s say their job is becoming more and more dangerous and they want state rail operator SNCB to hire extra security staff to work on Belgium’s trains and at the country’s railway stations.

SNCB said Tuesday morning’s two-hour strike would be likely to have a knock-on effect on train services throughout the day.

Subject: Belgian news