Credit: CFL
Luxembourg's railway authority, the CFL, has announced that it is carrying out major engineering works on the country's rail network in at least four phases in 2021.
An extension and expansion of the rail network is considered essential in order to sustain an improved quality of services according to customer needs. By dividing it into four phases, the schedule will be adapted throughout the year to ensure public service during key works.
With the increased production rate, the additional order for modern rolling stock and the completion of several infrastructure projects over the years, the attractiveness of rail transport has grown. The excellent growth in the number of passengers transported (up 85% in the last 20 years) confirms this.
Recent infrastructure projects such as the construction of the second Pulvermuehle viaduct or the Howald multimodal interchange hub and the Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg stop with its funiculars are an integral part of a range of projects for the continuous extension and modernisation of infrastructure.
According to the CFL, the next big step is the decongestion of the Luxembourg Railway Station (Gare). This point of convergence of a star-shaped network, receiving mixed transport (passenger / freight traffic) of more than 1,000 trains per day, has reached its final saturation level. The transformation of this key station, a central node for the six network lines, has led to the need to adapt. This resulted in a reorganisation of the track occupancy plan at Luxembourg Gare and, finally, a subdivision of the 2021 timetable into four main phases. Each phase is the result of a concentration of interdependent work.
Apart from the redevelopment of the infrastructure at Luxembourg Gare and the work to relieve congestion at this key network point, the CFL will foresee the simultaneous progress of other network extension and modernisation projects.
The goals of these CFL projects as a whole relate to:
- adapting the service offer, in line with demographic growth at the national level and the extension of activity centres (Cloche d'Or, Kirchberg, Belval, etc.);
- the construction of attractive, modern exchange centres, in order to bring the customer closer to booming economic districts via train;
- an increase in the reception capacities of the country's main stations thus only for particularly saturated sections of the national rail network;
- automated customer information at stations and stops;
- more than 3,800 parking spaces as close as possible to stations of the Luxembourg rail network;
- increased accessibility of stations and stops for people with reduced mobility;
- extended connectivity on the national network (WiFi).
The CFL recalled that the biggest challenge is building while simultaneously providing transport. In order to carry out these works in complete safety, the temporary closure of certain rail sections on different lines is necessary. In order to minimise disruption, works will be carried out (as far as possible) during less busy periods, such as school holidays and weekends. Nevertheless, extended closures during the week are inevitable. Alternative measures will be put in place to minimise disruption to passenger flow.
An overview of all work phases and periods of closure in 2021 is provided in the CFL calendar, which is available online (as a PDF) and at CFL desks in various railway stations.
Further information is available on the CFL website, as well as on its dedicated website on infrastructure projects, the CFL blog, the CFL and CFL International mobile applications or by tel.: 2489-2489 (CFL CallCenter).
