Brussels, June 24, 2026 – The Europe Today: Belgium on Wednesday activated a nationwide heat alert as an intense heat wave swept across the country, prompting widespread precautionary measures, including the cancellation of around 100 trains per day by the national railway operator SNCB.
The alert was issued under Belgium’s national heat plan following consultations among the National Crisis Center, the Public Health Ministry, the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI), and other relevant authorities.
According to local media reports, SNCB announced that approximately 100 trains would be cancelled daily from Wednesday through Friday as temperatures continue to rise. The railway operator said the measure was intended to protect passenger comfort and ensure staff safety during the period of extreme heat.
SNCB noted that some of its older trains lack air-conditioning systems and are more vulnerable to heat-related technical malfunctions, increasing the risk of service disruptions.
Under the revised schedule, several peak-hour commuter services will be suspended, while train frequencies on certain routes, including Geraardsbergen–Mechelen and Hal–Vilvoorde, will be reduced to one service per hour.
The railway operator advised vulnerable passengers to avoid unnecessary travel, encouraged commuters to travel outside peak periods where possible, and urged all travelers to remain hydrated. Around 100 railway stations across Belgium provide free drinking water through public fountains.
Authorities warned that the unusually high temperatures recorded in recent days are expected to intensify and persist until at least Sunday.
Meteorologists forecast temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius across much of the country from Wednesday, with highs of up to 38 degrees Celsius expected on Friday.
Nearly the entire country has been placed under an orange heat warning, the second-highest alert level, which is issued when temperatures are expected to surpass 35 degrees Celsius.
Officials also cautioned that nighttime temperatures would remain exceptionally high, limiting cooling relief, while ozone concentrations are projected to increase significantly over the coming days, potentially affecting air quality.
Belgium is among several European countries experiencing unusually high temperatures this week as a powerful heat wave continues to spread across large parts of the continent.
