The étéSociété Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (Luxembourg National Railway Company, abbreviated CFL) is the national railway company of Luxembourg. In 2013, it carried approximately 25 million passengers and 804 million tonnes of goods. The company employs 3,090 people, making CFL the country's seventh-largest corporate employer.
The Luxembourg rail system comprises 275 route-kilometres (170 miles), of which is double track and single track. Of the total track length of , are electrified at 25 kV, 50 Hz.
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. History of rail transport in Luxembourg
CFL operations and services
Passenger train routes
CFL advertises its passenger network as made up of seven lines:
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:
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 railways use the same gauge but differing electrification types, listed below: Belgium – 3 kV DC France – 25 kV AC Germany – 15 kV AC
Ridership
Passenger ridership carried on CFL-trains for each fiscal year (x 1000).
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
Passenger kilometers on CFL-trains for each fiscal year (x 1,000,000).
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
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. A new, more direct, line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg is due to open in 2024.