Strike cripples rail service in Belgium

 A 24-hour strike is disrupting train service throughout Belgium, and has caused the cancellation of high-speed Thalys services between Brussels and Paris, Amsterdam and other European cities, AP reported.
As of Monday morning Belgian national railways reported virtually no passenger service in the country's French-speaking Wallonia region, and "very limited" service in Dutch-speaking Flanders.
The company is advising people who want to travel in Belgium to seek alternatives.
On its website, Thalys said all its international trains have been halted for the day. Eurostar said its trains between London and Brussels will terminate and start from the French city of Lille, near the Belgian border, and that a reduced timetable will be in effect.
The strike was called by a labor union angered that hiring isn't keeping pace with work force departures.