REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BRUSSELS -- Belgian rail travel was hit hard by a 24-hour strike on Friday that halted trains including international services to Britain and France.

Rail workers occupied tracks connecting the two busiest stations in Brussels where 85 percent of services were cancelled, the national rail firm SNCB said.

"The strike is being well followed," said Filip Peers of the CGSP rail union, without providing further details.

Rail workers are protesting against reforms planned by the government of Prime Minister Charles Michel that includes thousands of job cuts.

Eurostar trains from London to Brussels on Friday are instead stopping at Lille in northern France, with all Thalys train services to and from Paris cancelled until late on Friday.

Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in Brussels on Wednesday against Michel's austerity measures.

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