Hasselt ( The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Unions are active over Limburg’s 2025 transport schedule, highlighting service gaps. Frederik Wittock from De Lin stresses reliable access to jobs and schools, while commuters like Ellen face strike uncertainties.
Unions are getting active because of worries about the work schedule for 2025, pointing out problems in different provinces. Frederik Wittock from De Lin mentioned that in Limburg, planners are working on making sure public transport helps people get to schools and jobs during busy times. This plan is to ensure that passengers can easily go to their destinations in the morning and come back home in the evening.
How are bus service disruptions affecting commuters in Hasselt?
It has been said that outside of peak times, there may be big gaps in service. Travelers are advised to be careful because there could be long periods when no buses are running, which can be tough for those who need to travel outside regular commuting hours. This scheduling plan has raised concerns among unions, leading them to call for action to fix these issues and push for more reliable service throughout the day.
At Hasselt station, a large group of Bewel staff gathered, anxiously waiting for the bus to Domein Kiewit, which conveniently passes by their workplace. One of the employees noted, “The bus we usually take didn’t arrive, but according to the signs, the next one is expected soon. So, we’ll just have to wait.” Among them was Ellen, who shared her plans to travel to Tessenderlo. With some concern, she said, “I just hope I can make it back tonight. I’m worried that the strikers might change their plans during the day.” This uncertainty reflected the broader impact of the strikes, leaving many commuters like Ellen anxious about their journeys.
According to Frederik Wittock, there isn’t much difference between city and regional bus lines. With the current ‘peak organization, buses run regularly but sometimes stop for a while. He mentioned that the De Lin depot in Lanaken is unusually quiet, with most buses parked inside and only a few maintenance workers present. They hinted that not many buses have left today, and it’s clear that the strike is being respected, as there are no drivers around, which is different from past strikes when many drivers were still present.
