The Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (Luxembourg National Railway Company, abbreviated CFL) is the national railway company of Luxembourg. In 2023, it carried approximately 28.7 million passengers. As of 2023, the company employs around 5,000 people, making CFL the country's largest corporate employer.[3]

Quick Facts Company type, Industry ...
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL)
Company typeGovernment-owned corporation
IndustryRail transport
Founded14 May 1946
HeadquartersLuxembourg City, Luxembourg
Area served
Luxembourg, parts of Belgium, France, Germany
Key people
Jeannot Waringo, President
Marc Wengler, Director-General
ProductsRail transport, Cargo transport
RevenueIncrease €1.073 billion (2022)[1]
Increase €4.4 million (2013)
Decrease €13 million (2022)
Owner94% Luxembourgish state, 4% Belgian state, 2% French state
Number of employees
Increase 5,000 (2023)[2]
WebsiteCFL
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Quick Facts Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois, Operation ...
Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois
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CFL Class 2400 train in Luxembourg.
Operation
National railwayChemins de Fer Luxembourgeois
Statistics
RidershipIncrease 28.7 million (2023)[2]
Passenger kmIncrease 388.8 million (2022)[1]
FreightDecrease 2,438 million tonnes kilometres (2022)[1]
System length
Total630 km (391 mi)
Double track140 km (87 mi)
Electrified574 km (357 mi)
Track gauge
Main1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
High-speed1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Electrification
25 kV 50 Hz AC576 km (358 mi)
Map
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Map of the Luxembourgish rail network
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The Luxembourg rail system comprises 275 route-kilometres (170 miles), of which 140 kilometres (87 mi) is double track and 135 kilometres (84 mi) single track. Of the total track length of 617 kilometres (383 mi), 576 kilometres (358 mi) are electrified at 25 kV, 50 Hz.[4]

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:[5]

  • 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)

Internally it uses a different system with more sub divisions:[6]

  • 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

All neighbouring railways use the same gauge but differing electrification types, listed below:

Ridership

Passenger ridership carried on CFL-trains for each fiscal year (x 1000).[7][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

Passenger kilometers on CFL-trains for each fiscal year (x 1,000,000).[7][1]

  • 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

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Most CFL-services are operated with modern double-decker trains, such as these Class 2200.

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

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.[8] A new, more direct, line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg is due to open in 2027.[9]

See also

References

Further reading

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