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.
Luxembourg is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Luxembourg is 82.
History
CFL is the result of a nationalisation of private railway companies in 1946.
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
- 2000: 12,985
- 2006: 14,793
- 2007: 16,442
- 2008: 17,676
- 2009: 17,039
- 2010: 17,996
- 2011: 18,200
- 2012: 19,834
- 2013: 20,714
- 2014: 21,503
- 2015: 22,496
- 2016: 22,459
- 2017: 22,930
- 2018: 23,331
- 2019: 25,016
- 2020: 14,500
- 2021: 16,600
- 2022: 22,000
- 2023: 28,700
- 2024: 31,300
- 2025: 31,400
- 1938: 215
- 1950: 227
- 1960: 230
- 1970: 256
- 1980: 302
- 1990: 261
- 2000: 332
- 2006: 298
- 2007: 233
- 2008: 345
- 2009: 333
- 2010: 347
- 2011: 349
- 2012: 373
- 2013: 385
- 2014: 409
- 2015: 418
- 2016: 417
- 2017: 438
- 2018: 443
- 2019: 463
- 2020: 269
- 2021: 304
- 2022: 389
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
Projects
In 2019, doubling of track between Luxembourg railway station and Sandweiler-Contern at a cost of €462 million was completed, following an original planned 2013 opening.[9] A new, more direct, line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg is due to open in 2027.[10]
Fares
CFL trains are free of charge within Luxembourg, with the exception of first class[11]. For international journeys, a ticket is required[12].
See also
- CFL Cargo Denmark
- Trams in Luxembourg
- Transport in Luxembourg
- Train categories in Luxembourg
Further reading
External links
References
- Rapport annuel 2022 du Groupe CFL CFL, 2023-06-12^
- Les CFL ont transporté 28,7 millions de voyageurs en 2023 CFL, 15 January 2024, retrieved 12 February 2024^
- CFL reports 31.4 million train passengers in 2025 RTL Today, 2026-02-27^
- Les principaux employeurs au Luxembourg d'après l'éffectif au 1er janvier 2023 Statec, 2023-07-20^
- Luxembourg Railway Network Statement 2023 acf.gouvernement.lu, 22 Nov 2021, retrieved 1 July 2023^
- CFL www.cfl.lu, retrieved 2020-08-30^
- RESEAU FERRE LUXEMBOURGEOIS, DOCUMENT DE REFERENCE 2008 Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois, 2007, retrieved 2007-09-27^
- Trafic voyageurs (rail et route) 1938 - 2019 (version révisée) statistiques.public.lu, retrieved 2020-11-27^
- €462m rail link hopes to ease Luxembourg traffic flow Luxembourg Times, 12 June 2019^
- CFL groupe.cfl.lu, retrieved 2024-07-25^
- https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/living/mobility/public-transport.html^
- https://www.cfl.lu/en-gb/ticket^