Easy way to find out about railroad strikes?

We'll be using rail off and on during our upcoming trip (Netherlands,
Belgium, France), and I'm a bit worried about rail strikes. We speak just
enough of the local languages to get around, but we won't be watching
local news - is there a reasonably easy way to find out about upcoming
rail strikes? How far ahead of time are they usually announced? Are rental
car agencies quickly sold out when this happens?

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We'll be using rail off and on during our upcoming trip (Netherlands,
Belgium, France), and I'm a bit worried about rail strikes. We speak just
enough of the local languages to get around, but we won't be watching
local news - is there a reasonably easy way to find out about upcoming
rail strikes? How far ahead of time are they usually announced? Are rental
car agencies quickly sold out when this happens?

On the basis of recent experience, rail strikes are either organised and
announced at least several days in advance, typically following breakdown in
negotiations for new employment contracts, or occur without notice in
protest at an assault on rail staff. In both cases, the strike lasts no more
than 24 hrs - so those people who have no road alternative simply advance or
postpone activities requiring rail travel by one day as soon as they become
aware of the situation. The only practical way of finding out about strike
warnings is from local news sources (press, TV, on-line...) possibly via
hotel staff, and at stations.

Regards,

- Alan (in Brussels)

On Sat, 18 Jun 2005 19:24:37 +0200, Alan (in Brussels) wrote:

The only practical way of finding out about strike
warnings is from local news sources (press, TV, on-line...) possibly via
hotel staff, and at stations.

Good idea about asking the hotel staff - thanks!

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-BB-
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