Credit: Ievgenii Karanov, Chronicle.lu

On Monday 15 June 2025, Luxembourg's national railway company, the CFL, presented its annual results for 2024.

The presentation highlighted what CFL described as a “long-term strategy and historic investment plan” aimed at maintaining its position as the preferred mobility provider in Luxembourg. According to CFL, as in previous years, investments in human resources, rolling stock and technical infrastructure are designed to respond to growing mobility needs in Luxembourg and the Greater Region, with a focus on rail transport as a mode aligned with current societal and environmental priorities.

The main achievements of the 2024 financial year were summarised as follows:

  • CFL trains transported a record 31.3 million passengers (compared to 28.7 million in 2023, a 9% increase);
  • the CFL hired 503 people (515 in 2023)
  • 2.9 million passengers travelled by CFL buses; a new public service contract was signed for bus transport covering the 2025–2034 period;
  • €179.6 million invested in rolling stock and equipment (up from €140.5 million in 2023), including commissioning of the first six Coradia units and modernisation of the TER2N-ng fleet;
  • €287.7 million invested in infrastructure on behalf of the Rail Fund (up from €256.3 million in 2023); 
  • 90,847 road shipments were shifted to rail, with 2.215 billion tonne-kilometres of freight transported, supporting “Made in Luxembourg” logistics;
  • Ten interoperable Traxx MS3 locomotives were commissioned for North-South and East-West freight corridors;
  • 15% of CFL’s electricity needs were met by photovoltaic energy produced in the Greater Region;
  • Train punctuality improved to 90.8% (compared to 90.1% in 2023);
  • CFL reported record revenue of €1.215 billion and a net profit of €25.6 million (up from €1.134 billion and €18.3 million in 2023, respectively).

“The 2024 report highlights CFL’s commitment to combining financial performance with responsibility towards our customers, while addressing climate challenges. The 2024 results clearly demonstrate our dedication to continuously improving mobility, supporting economic development and protecting the environment,” stated Jeannot Waringo, Chairman of the CFL Board of Directors.

Speaking to Chronicle.lu, Marc Wengler, CEO of the CFL Group, reflected on the company’s progress across all core areas in 2024: “We have developments on all three activities – that is freight activity, passenger and infrastructure. And all these developments are based in a medium to long-term strategy, which is our vision to have more capacities, more quality and more service.” He added that this strategic approach aims to cover “the whole mobility chain” across both passenger and freight transport. “In 2024, we had concrete results. We have a good financial result. We have a new record of number of passengers - 31.3 million, which is an increase of 9% compared to last year. And we foresee also a progression in the next years. In less than 20 years we have more than doubled the number of passengers. That is really an achievement.”

Multimodality and Complementary Services

In 2024, the CFL Group maintained its focus on expanding services beyond its core rail activities. In passenger mobility, six new Coradia Stream High Capacity trainsets entered service, marking a step toward the planned rollout of 34 units by 2026. This investment aims to increase seating capacity by 46%.

CFL mobility, the Group’s car-sharing subsidiary operating under the Flex brand, recorded a 28.64% increase in users in 2024. Meanwhile, the CFL cactus shoppi retail service, first launched at Luxembourg Station in May 2023, expanded with the opening of a second location at Mersch Station in May 2025. The initiative aims to provide convenience retail options near key public transport hubs.

In freight, CFL continued to promote “made in Luxembourg” logistics solutions. Around 1,200 employees support a trimodal transport offer-rail, road and water-centred around the Bettembourg-Dudelange intermodal terminal, which serves as a strategic hub for cross-border freight movement.

Investments

CFL’s own investments amounted to €179.6 million in 2024 (up from €140.5 million in 2023), with a focus on modernising rolling stock and improving passenger infrastructure. These included continued payments for the acquisition of 34 Coradia Stream High Capacity trains, expected to enter full service by 2026 and increase seating capacity by 46%, as well as the ongoing modernisation of the TER2N-ng fleet-four of which were fully refurbished in 2024.

Digital investments also progressed in 2024, with further implementation of internal digital processes and IT applications aimed at enhancing customer service across CFL’s activities.

Infrastructure investments executed on behalf of the Rail Fund totalled €287.7 million in 2024 (up from €256.3 million in 2023). CFL’s infrastructure manager carried out maintenance and upgrade work across 264 days during the year.

Major infrastructure projects included the construction of a new seven-kilometre line between Bettembourg and Luxembourg, the redevelopment of the Howald stop into a multimodal interchange, and work on the southern section of Luxembourg Railway Station.

In September 2024, CFL inaugurated the renovated Rodange station as a multimodal hub for the south-west of the country. The redevelopment included a park-and-ride facility with approximately 1,600 spaces and operational improvements to reduce train interference and improve punctuality.

Freight Activities

In the freight segment, CFL commissioned ten interoperable Traxx MS3 locomotives at the start of 2024. These are among the first locomotives in Europe capable of operating international freight services across both North–South and East–West corridors, adjusting to various national railway systems.

Despite challenging economic and geopolitical conditions and increased competition from road transport, CFL reported positive financial results in its freight division in 2024. The group also noted the development of new markets, supported by its trimodal logistics platform in Bettembourg-Dudelange (rail, road, waterway), which reinforces Luxembourg’s position as a hub for “made in Luxembourg” logistics.

Financial Results

The CFL Group’s net turnover increased by 7.1% in 2024, reaching €1.215 billion (up from €1.134 billion in 2023). This was distributed as follows: 41.8% from infrastructure management and real estate (€507.5 million, +6.3%), 34.8% from passenger activities (€422.4 million, +7.9%), and 23.1% from freight activities (€280.8 million, +7.1%).

The Group reported a record net profit of €25.6 million for the 2024 financial year, compared to €18.3 million in 2023.

CFL considers itself well positioned to expand its activities in the coming years within an economic framework that promotes rail transport as an efficient and sustainable mobility solution.

Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility

According to CFL, its trains offer 276,705 seats per day and contribute to reducing transport-related emissions. On average, a person travelling by train emits about seven times less greenhouse gases than by car. CFL also reported continued efforts to promote multimodal mobility through the development of new park-and-ride sites and interchange hubs near major stations.

In its own operations, CFL is pursuing electrification of its fleet, aiming to convert all 80 buses to electric by 2030. Twelve electric buses entered service in May 2025. The company also continues to electrify its service vehicles.

CFL stated that 15% of its electricity needs are currently met through photovoltaic production in the Greater Region, via a partnership with Enovos. The group has sourced 100% renewable electricity for passenger train traction in Luxembourg for over fifteen years.

CFL also expanded its complementary mobility services. It manages over 80 secure bike parking stations near train stations and continues to test autonomous shuttle services in Belval. Its car-sharing service Flex included 155 vehicles in 2024, 30% of which were electric, logging 474,481 kilometres over the year.

This sustainability approach also applies to CFL’s freight operations. The company stated that shifting freight transport to rail helped avoid an estimated 114,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions in 2024. The Bettembourg-Dudelange intermodal terminal is currently undergoing major capacity upgrades, with the objective of fully decarbonising the site by 2027.