BRUSSELS: Trade unions in Brussels and southern Belgium have begun a 48-hour rail strike which is set to disrupt national traffic and international connections to Paris and London through Thursday. Workers began walking off the job late Tuesday to protest planned government reforms aimed at streamlining services and making the sector more efficient. The unions say the government is imposing austerity measures that will cost thousands of jobs and cut services at a time when environmentally friendly public transport is essential. Unions across Belgium originally sought to stage a five-day rail strike in January, but faced with consumer outrage cut the duration to two days. Unions in northern Belgium then withdrew from the strike. The Thalys line to Paris and Eurostar to London say their services will be cut or severely affected in Belgium. — AP