Train workers in Belgium have gone on strike following the recent fatal train collision at Halle that killed 18, protesting against what they say are deteriorating working conditions.
The workers said they have been fearing an accident would occur as a result of bad working conditions and the railways' refusal to install automatic braking equipment on all trains, according to ABC News.
The strike has further disrupted Belgium's domestic rail services with SNCB, the Belgian state-owned train operator, warning commuters it could take several days for the investigation to be completed and for the tracks to be fixed.
Eurostar's international rail services have also been affected with journeys from London and Paris to Brussels being cancelled for the third consecutive day.
The high-speed Thalys services to France, Germany and the Netherlands have also been suspended.
Reports now indicate the driver of one of the trains jumped from his cab moments before the tragic collision after trying to sound the alarm.
Officials say the accident, which left the two trains jack-knifed together and injured over 100 people, could have been caused because of one train missing a stop signal.
The black box recorders, similar to those used on aeroplanes, have been recovered and should shed some light on the causes of the accident.
The investigation into the accident is underway and international services are not expected to resume until next week.
