Autonomous CFL Shuttle Service Debuts in Esch-Belval

Luxembourg's national railway company, the CFL, has announced the launch of two autonomous OHMIO shuttle buses in Esch-Belval.

The shuttle buses hit the road for the first time on the morning of Monday 11 August 2025, offering passengers in the municipalities of Esch-sur-Alzette and Sanem a free new transport service. The first autonomous CFL shuttle buses are now available to workers, students and residents of the Belval site.

Initially, these shuttle buses will operate Monday to Friday, once per hour from 09:00 to 14:00. Schedules may be adapted according to customer demand. The 4 km route serves four stops: Kannercampus / CIPA – Lycée Bel-Val – Avenue du Rock'n'Roll (P+R) – Université. The stops were chosen to allow, for example, residents of the CIPA residential care home for older people to easily reach trains at the Belval-Université station.

"For the CFL to remain the first choice in terms of mobility, we must think outside the box and innovate to introduce solutions that cover our customers' entire journey, from the first to the last kilometre. With these new autonomous shuttles, we are adding an innovative link to our mobility service chain," said CFL CEO Marc Wengler.

The electric shuttle buses travel at a maximum speed of 25 km/h along a pre-programmed virtual route. They each have eight seats and are adapted for people with reduced mobility. In accordance with Luxembourg law, a trained "safety operator" is present on board to take control if needed (e.g. in the event of an emergency); fifteen CFL employees have been trained for this purpose.

The shuttle buses, originally from New Zealand, have already covered more than 5,000 km to test and secure all potential scenarios in real conditions. They are equipped with four LIDAR sensors providing 360-degree vision, which, combined with ultrasonic sensors, can detect and avoid obstacles safely and efficiently.

To guarantee the safety of all road users and passengers, the autonomous shuttle buses have been prepared for all eventualities in collaboration with the manufacturer HMI Technologies. In close cooperation with the municipalities of Esch-sur-Alzette and Sanem and the consulting engineering firm Schroeder & Associés, optimal traffic conditions (routes, tree pruning, etc.) have also been put in place.

The CFL has asked pedestrians in Esch-Belval to be attentive when the shuttle buses pass, to avoid unnecessary automatic braking that could cause discomfort for passengers.