Meanwhile Eurostar announced that "due to industrial action in Belgium, Eurostar will be unable to operate any services between the UK and Brussels on Thursday."

As a result, trains leaving from London normally bound for Brussels will get no further than Lille, France. The London-Paris Eurostar route will operate a "near normal service" according to the company.

The 24-hour strike action was to start hitting services from Wednesday evening in Europe.

Normal working should resume on Friday though it may take some time to get usual timetables operating.

All Thalys and Eurostar tickets for affected trains can be exchanged or refunded, both train companies said.

Belgian signallers and station staff will walk out on Wednesday night in protest against a restructuring plan for the freight division of Belgian national railway operator SNCB.

AFP / Expatica