Sophie Dutordoir, SNCB CEO; Jean-Luc Crucke, Minister of Mobility, Climate, Environmental Transition & Sustainable Development (BE); Yuriko Backes, Minister for Mobility & Public Works (LU); Laurence Crucifix, Libramont Mayor; Benoit Gilson, Infrabel CEO; Credit: MMTP

On Monday 29 September 2025, Luxembourg's Minister for Mobility and Public Works, and the Belgian Federal Minister of Mobility, Climate, Environmental Transition and Sustainable Development, Jean-Luc Crucke, met in Libramont (Belgium) for a discussion on optimising Belgian-Luxembourg relations in the field of rail infrastructure.

Following their meeting, the two ministers signed a letter of intent to strengthen rail cooperation, reflecting their shared desire to strengthen the provisions of the agreement signed between Luxembourg and Belgium in October 2023.

Luxembourg's Ministry of Mobility and Public Works stated that both countries share the goal of making rail the backbone of sustainable mobility, aiming to modernise infrastructure, provide an attractive service for passengers and strengthen rail freight. The rail policy ambitions shared by both countries should also help support the modal shift and thus support the achievement of European climate objectives, namely a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and the achievement of climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, according to the ministry.

The letter of intent states that both parties have set the following objectives:

  • to increase the proportion of daily passengers using the train between the two countries;
  • to increase the volume of goods transported by rail through Belgium and Luxembourg (with the aim of doubling this figure by 2040);
  • to reduce journey times between Luxembourg and Brussels, in order to promote international passenger transport by rail.

One of the key points following the timetable change, effective December 2025, is a direct omnibus train between Libramont, Arlon and Luxembourg. This direct train will be operated jointly by Luxembourg's national railway company, the CFL, and Belgium's national railway company, the SNCB. The train attendants on board are also SNCB employees.

"As stipulated in the government agreement, strengthening and improving cross-border rail relations with our Belgian friends, particularly those towards Brussels, are of major importance for both passenger and freight transport," said Minister Backes. "Today's signing allows us to jointly address this shared challenge, aiming for both a better and faster connection between the two European capitals and strengthening the Belgian-Luxembourg rail axis on the European stage."

"The cooperation we are strengthening today with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is based on a clear conviction that we will translate into concrete progress: cross-border mobility is not an add-on, but a strategic condition for achieving our climate, economic and defence objectives. By joining forces for rail, we are creating concrete solutions for commuters, supporting sustainable freight and together preparing the infrastructure that Europe geopolitically needs," noted Minister Crucke.

The ministers also discussed opportunities to further position rail mobility in the context of defence-related issues. This aims to ensure a coherent approach to the development of dual-use rail infrastructure on the cross-border sections of the routes identified by the "Military Requirements for Military Mobility within and beyond the EU" of 18 March 2025 and primarily on the "Central-Northern" military mobility corridor.