Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois

The Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (Luxembourg National Railway Company; abbr. CFL ) is the national railway company of Luxembourg. In 2025, it carried approximately 31.4 million passengers. As of 2023, the company employs around 5,000 people, making CFL the country's largest corporate employer.[4]

The Luxembourg rail system comprises 275 route-kilometres (170 miles), of which 140 km is double track and 135 km single track. Of the total track length of 617 km, 576 km are electrified at 25 kV, 50 Hz.[5]

Luxembourg borders Belgium, France and Germany. Correspondingly, there are cross-border services into these countries. Some are wholly run by CFL, whereas others are run by SNCF, NMBS/SNCB and DB. CFL passenger trains cover most of the network.

CFL operates most of its passenger trains using EMUs and electric locomotives with push-pull stock. The company also has a fleet of diesel locomotives for hauling freight trains and for general shunting purposes.

CFL operations and services

Passenger train routes

CFL advertises its passenger network as made up of seven lines:[6]

Internally it uses a different system with more sub divisions:[7]

Line 10 Luxembourg – Troisvierges-Frontière – Liège (Belgium), Kautenbach – Wiltz and Ettelbrück – Diekirch
Line 30 Luxembourg – Wasserbillig-Frontière – Trier (Germany)
Line 50 Luxembourg – Kleinbettingen-Frontière – Brussels (Belgium)
Line 60 Luxembourg – Esch-sur-Alzette – Rodange, Bettembourg – Volmerange-les-Mines (France), Noetzange – Rumelange and Esch-sur-Alzette – Audun-le-Tiche (France)
Line 70 Luxembourg – Rodange – Athus (Belgium), Rodange – Longwy (France)
Line 90 Luxembourg – Thionville (France) – Metz (France) – Nancy (France)

Ligne 1 Luxembourg – Troisvierges-Frontière, 1a Ettelbruck – Diekirch, 1b Kautenbach – Wiltz
Ligne 2a Kleinbettingen – Steinfort, 2b Ettelbruck – Bissen
Ligne 3 Luxembourg – Wasserbillig-Frontière via Sandweiler-Contern
Ligne 4 Luxembourg – Berchem – Oetrange, 4a Luxembourg - Alzingen
Ligne 5 Luxembourg – Kleinbettingen-Frontière
Ligne 6 Luxembourg – Bettembourg-Frontière, 6a Bettembourg – Esch/Alzette, 6b Bettembourg – Dudelange-Usines (Volmerange), 6c Noertzange – Rumelange, 6d Tétange – Langengrund, 6e Esch-sur-Alzette – Audun-le-Tiche, 6f Esch-sur-Alzette – Pétange, 6g Pétange – Rodange-Frontière (Aubange), 6h Pétange – Rodange-Frontière (Mont St. Martin), 6j Pétange – Rodange-Frontière (Athus), 6k Brucherberg – Scheuerbusch
Ligne 7 Luxembourg – Pétange

Rail links to adjacent countries

All neighbouring countries have railways, but only France uses the same electrification of 25 kV AC:

Belgium – change to 3 kV DC
France – same voltage and current
Germany – change to 15 kV AC

Ridership

Passenger ridership carried on CFL-trains for each fiscal year (x 1000).[8][1]

Passenger kilometers on CFL-trains for each fiscal year (x 1,000,000).[8][1]

1938: 9,505
1950: 10,607
1960: 10,643
1970: 12,531
1980: 14,053
1990: 12,692

Rolling stock

CFL owns a relatively modern fleet of passenger trains, with a majority of double-decker trains. Nearly all routes are operated with electric trains.

CFL locomotives and rolling stock

type	Government-owned corporation
foundation	14
location	Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
key people	Jeannot Waringo, President Marc Wengler, Director-General
area served	Luxembourg, parts of Belgium, France, Germany
industry	Rail transport
products	Rail transport, Cargo transport
revenue	€1.073 billion (2022)‡R1R‡
operating income	€4.4 million (2013)
net income	€13 million (2022)
num employees	5,000 (2023)‡R2R‡
owner	94% Luxembourgish state, 4% Belgian state, 2% French state
homepage	http://www.cfl.lu

Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois

History

CFL operations and services

Passenger train routes

Rail links to adjacent countries

Ridership

Rolling stock

Projects

Fares

See also

Further reading

External links

References