First Trees Planted on Avenue de la Liberté ahead of Luxtram Extension

Monday saw the planting of the first tree on Avenue de la Liberté in Luxembourg City, in the presence of François Bausch, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility and Public Transport, Lydie Polfer, Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, and Luxtram representatives.

Indeed, the installation of the new tram section foresees the complete redesign of Avenue de la Liberté in Luxembourg's capital. In this context, the street will again be lined with trees on both sides, a hint at the historical look of the area and a decision taken in accordance with the criteria of the UNESCO National Commission.

The 69 selected trees are 20-year-old platanus hispanica "Huissen" trees of a height varying between 10 and 12 metres and come from the Ebben Nurseries located in Cuijk in the Netherlands. The platanus trees will be planted at a rate of two per day in "tubs" that are 3.5 metres wide and 1.90 metres deep, fitted with a 1 metre high anti-root system. This protects the roots of the trees in the networks located under the footpath and should allow the trees to develop sustainably.

On Avenue Reuter and on the section between Place de Metz and Place de Paris, Luxtram is in the process of building the tram platform and will start road works in the spring. On Boulevard Royal and on the section between Place de Paris and the Gare centrale, network reinforcement works are planned until spring before starting construction of the tram platform.

The tram fleet currently boasts sixteen trams.  As of October 2020, the tram will make its first journeys between Place de l'Etoile and the Gare centrale during the "tests and trials" phase. The commissioning of four new stations, including the two interchange hubs at Hamilius and Gare centrale is scheduled for December 2020.

Thanks to the charging system, the tram will run without overhead lines and efforts are being made to integrate it harmoniously into the urban space of Luxembourg City.