The CFL continues to work for your mobility of today … and tomorrow
301 days: That’s the amount of days the CFL have been building for you in 2023. And the results are quite remarkable, as we recently showed in our 2023 engineering works retrospective.
In 2024, we will continue to ensure that rail retains its rightful place as the backbone of public transport in the mobility of tomorrow. Rail services must remain attractive. To achieve this, we want to further increase the number of trains and punctuality and comfort rates. You can find out exactly what we have planned for 2024 here.
Rodange – towards the finish line
The station in south-west Luxembourg is served by two railway lines. For this to work even better in future and to prevent delays from spreading from one line to the other, Rodange station is being remodelled. Rodange already has an additional platform-connected track, a new bus station and a brand new P+R with 1,600 parking spaces. Switches and tracks have been re-laid in both the east and west so that any possible delays can no longer be relayed from one line to trains on the other. The only thing missing now is the completion of the western underpass, which will provide barrier-free access to the station platforms from that direction.
New railway line: the journey continues
Work on the new double-track line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg will also continue in 2024. Two additional tracks will provide the CFL with much-needed capacity on the busiest part of Luxembourg’s rail network. Together with the purchase of new rolling stock (find out more about the Coradia Stream High Capacity trains here), a whopping 50% more seats and up to 8 trains per hour in or out of France will be possible. Work on the major project will also continue in 2024. The programme includes large-scale groundworks and foundation work, on which the trains weighing hundreds of tonnes will travel in the future.
Vibration tamping columns. These are essential for more stability in the subsoil of the new railway line. A total of 2,000 of these are needed to ensure that the foundations meet the requirements of the tracks.
A total of eight bridges are part of the work associated with this new railway line. In 2024, work will continue on the engineering structure over which the N31 will cross the future track bed at the end of 2024.
The further development of the Howald interchange platform
Howald plays a key role halfway between Bettembourg and Luxembourg so that the existing line between Bettembourg and Luxembourg and the line currently under construction can be travelled independently of each other (thus preventing delays – which ensures more punctual trains). In 2024, Howald will be marked by the construction of a second platform and two additional tracks. Thanks to the new infrastructure, the new line and the existing line will be able to enter Luxembourg station separately from Bettembourg via Howald. This is made possible, among other things, by the remodelling of the sidings at Luxembourg Station. The redesign of the “triage” is also planned for 2024. Over six kilometres of new tracks will be laid this year alone – including 36 switches. Important work that will help to ensure that trains on the Luxembourg – Esch/Alzette – Rodange and Luxembourg – Thionville/Nancy lines can take separate routes and arrive at Luxembourg Station on different tracks. Without any crossings (i.e. one train having to wait for another train) – an important element for improving punctuality.
More parking spaces? With pleasure…
2,000 additional parking spaces were offered to CFL customers with the opening of the P+R in Mersch and Rodange. In 2024, the CFL will continue to work on making life even easier for customers who want to leave their car behind and switch to public transport. In 2024, another P+R will be built in the north, more precisely in Troisvierges, which will offer almost 400 additional parking spaces. New car parks are also being built in Wecker and Colmar-Berg. Work on these will also start in 2024.
Work that goes to the core
To ensure that the existing route network can continue to offer customers and employees safety and comfort, it must be cared for and looked after. Maintenance and modernisation work is also on the agenda for 2024. In total, over 21 kilometres of tracks will be renewed, 33,900 sleepers laid and 54 switches installed. This work will take place in various parts of the country, including, between Rodange and Athus, Mamer and Capellen or, as described above, in the sidings of the Luxembourg Station.
Construction work map for maintenance and modernisation / Caption : Maintenance and modernisation work is planned for 2024 at the locations marked in red.
Not magic, but hard work: the CFL is making two level crossings disappear in 2024
Hocus pocus. It’s not quite that simple after all. To make train and car journeys even safer, the CFL will also be closing level crossings in 2024. This year, two level crossings in Colmar-Usines are affected and will not live to see the end of this year.