Their action affects about 50 percent of the railway traffic including lines coming and going from Brussels.

The workers went on strike to protest against lack of staffing and the resulting difficulties relating to work and holiday planning.

The railway company NMBS/ SNCB said that they had considered the workers request during the recent strikes and that long-term hiring was underway.

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Double transport trouble isolates Brussels

Expatica: 25 October 2006

BRUSSELS - Train controllers went on strike on Wednesday morning causing major delays, and unfinished road works have led to the closing of the Brussels ring-road causing major traffic jams.

The train controllers began striking at 4:00 am in the Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve station and caused disruptions on the Namur - Brussels - Charleroi line, announced Belgian radio RTBF.

The Brussels - Luxembourg line was not affected. Strikers did not block any trains and said they would end the strike at midnight.

Labour unions are in discussions with the management of the Belgian railway company NMBS/ SNCB tackling the heart of the issue; lack of resources and staff.

Ottignies complained about their lack of staffing and has been given the green light to create jobs.

Currently 34 controllers are employed at the station but the union claims that at least 40 are needed. "They are unable to choose their days-off or holidays," said Christian Martin, a representative of the CGSP, a labour union.

Labour union representatives agree that there are no short-term solutions. Hiring campaigns need to be launched but as it takes at least nine months to train a controller, qualified staff won't be dispatched to Ottignies until the summer.

Adding to these railway delays, the Brussels ring-road has been closed to traffic and today's traffic jams are as long as 7 to 8 km.

Road works have caused the traffic jams stretching to Waterloo.

The construction work should have been finished in the early hours of the morning, before traffic intensified, but the machine needed to complete the last stage of the operation broke down.

Circulation is now limited to one lane until Thursday morning.