All Eurostar trains travelling from London to Brussels have been cancelled due to anti-austerity strikes in Belgium. The nine scheduled trains to the Belgian capital will terminate in Lille, Northern France, today as a result of protests against government austerity measures. Around 44 per cent of flights are also cancelled from Brussels' main airports as protests ground the country to a halt. Trade unionists in Belgium are striking against government austerity plans impacting all transport . Picket lines are blocking the entrance to industrial areas and workplaces, such as this Audi factory . Labour union leaders have also shut down Eurostar services from Brussels to Paris and other European destinations, as well as the high-speed Thalys train service. Metro, bus and tram services in Brussels have also been closed as a result of the planned strikes. The one-day strike is the third in a series of weekly union actions intended to force the government of Prime Minister Charles Michel to backtrack on a program to reform pensions, cut health and social security budgets and raise the retirement age. Even more travellers are expected to be effected by a general strike throughout Belgium on December 15 that is expected to grind the entire country to a halt. Trade Unions members in the 'drag off zone'  at Brussels Airport, where 44 per cent of flights were cancelled . Protesters cook on barbecues outside the Infrabel railway company's building in Brussels . Eurostar has urged people not to try to travel to Brussels. 'Due to a National Strike in Belgium on the 8th and 15th December 2014, Eurostar services on the Brussels route will only be able to operate to and from Lille Europe on that day,' a statement said. 'Due to the scale of the strike we expect no trains or other public transport to run in Belgium. Eurostar are unable to provide any alternative method of transport between Brussels and Lille and we strongly advise our passengers not to travel on these dates. 'If you have not got in contact to make a change or request a refund, we request that you do so as soon as possible.' The Schuman subway station is empty after Metro, tram and bus services are shut down due to the strike . The 24-hour strike includes workers at the SNCB-NMBS Belgian public train company . Tuesday's first Eurostar service to Brussels has just three business premier seats remaining while other services are also close to booked out. A baggage handler strike at Brussels' international airport meant the cancellation of 267 flights out of the country, making up close to half of the airport's total departures. Picket lines have blocked workers from getting into industrial areas to work, including an Audi car factory and the Infrabel railway company's building in Brussels. In November, 100,000 people marches in Brussels in a largely peaceful protest against the austerity measures with 50 people reported injured, including some police, after violence and 30 people detained.
Trade unions are protesting the government's austerity measures .
Monday's protests are part of a series of weekly industrial action .
Eurostar services to and from Brussels have been cancelled .
London trains can only go as far as Lille in northern France .
44 per cent of flights from Brussels airport were cancelled .
All Eurostar trains travelling from London to Brussels have been cancelled due to anti-austerity strikes in Belgium. The nine scheduled trains to the Belgian capital will terminate in Lille, Northern France, today as a result of protests against government austerity measures. Around 44 per cent of flights are also cancelled from Brussels' main airports as protests ground the country to a halt. Trade unionists in Belgium are striking against government austerity plans impacting all transport . Picket lines are blocking the entrance to industrial areas and workplaces, such as this Audi factory . Labour union leaders have also shut down Eurostar services from Brussels to Paris and other European destinations, as well as the high-speed Thalys train service. Metro, bus and tram services in Brussels have also been closed as a result of the planned strikes. The one-day strike is the third in a series of weekly union actions intended to force the government of Prime Minister Charles Michel to backtrack on a program to reform pensions, cut health and social security budgets and raise the retirement age. Even more travellers are expected to be effected by a general strike throughout Belgium on December 15 that is expected to grind the entire country to a halt. Trade Unions members in the 'drag off zone'  at Brussels Airport, where 44 per cent of flights were cancelled . Protesters cook on barbecues outside the Infrabel railway company's building in Brussels . Eurostar has urged people not to try to travel to Brussels. 'Due to a National Strike in Belgium on the 8th and 15th December 2014, Eurostar services on the Brussels route will only be able to operate to and from Lille Europe on that day,' a statement said. 'Due to the scale of the strike we expect no trains or other public transport to run in Belgium. Eurostar are unable to provide any alternative method of transport between Brussels and Lille and we strongly advise our passengers not to travel on these dates. 'If you have not got in contact to make a change or request a refund, we request that you do so as soon as possible.' The Schuman subway station is empty after Metro, tram and bus services are shut down due to the strike . The 24-hour strike includes workers at the SNCB-NMBS Belgian public train company . Tuesday's first Eurostar service to Brussels has just three business premier seats remaining while other services are also close to booked out. A baggage handler strike at Brussels' international airport meant the cancellation of 267 flights out of the country, making up close to half of the airport's total departures. Picket lines have blocked workers from getting into industrial areas to work, including an Audi car factory and the Infrabel railway company's building in Brussels. In November, 100,000 people marches in Brussels in a largely peaceful protest against the austerity measures with 50 people reported injured, including some police, after violence and 30 people detained.
Brussels have been cancelled due to terminate in Lille, Northern France, today as a measures. Around 44 per cent of flights are also also shut down Eurostar services from Brussels to one-day strike is the third in a series of weekly per cent of flights were cancelled . Protesters