The CFL will continue to roll up their sleeves for you in 2025
engineering works/projects
//3 February 2025
In 2025, the CFL will continue to work for your mobility of tomorrow. The aim this year is once again to make the railway fit for the future. This comes as no surprise, as the number of train passengers has more than doubled in just under 20 years. Rail is therefore more than ever the backbone of a growing population and economy. To ensure that it can remain so in the future, the CFL are continuing their major construction projects and maintenance work in 2025. In order to ensure that you can still get to your destination, the CFL are doing everything they can this year to provide you with suitable alternatives (rail replacement buses). We have summarised the most important work for you in pictures.
Do you want to know how the CFL engineering works will affect your everyday train journey? With the engineering works search, you can find out in just a few clicks when works will affect you on your route. You can find information on the alternatives in the CFL timetable search.
New railway line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg
Between Luxembourg and Bettembourg, an additional seven kilometres of railway line is being built to alleviate the congestion on the busiest part of Luxembourg’s rail network. By 2027, the CFL will thus create additional capacity (two additional tracks) and thus the basis for further improving the train service. By extending the platforms, it will also be possible to operate longer trains with more seats.
In addition to the possibility of offering 50% more seats, the new line has the potential to run more trains between Thionville/Metz and Luxembourg and also to completely separate this train service from that on the Luxembourg – Esch/Alzette – Rodange line. Any disruptions on one line will then no longer automatically affect train operations on the other line.
In recent years, work on the so-called new line has already made good progress.Numerous new bridges, including the impressive bow-string steel structure, adorn the course of the new line.Further earthworks will be carried out in 2025 to guarantee the necessary stability of the ground, which will later bear several hundred tonnes of weight.This work will take place, for example, in front of the so-called overpass structure, which will lead the tracks of the new line over those of the existing line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg.In order to create the necessary space for the earthworks and to enable the future course of the new line, the existing tracks will be swivelled over a length of almost 500 metres.Almost 200 overhead line masts will also be installed in the course of 2025.In preparation for the actual track installation, 36,000 tonnes of ballast will be laid along almost half of the route.The laying of cable ducts and the creation of access routes for maintenance by CFL staff will continue in 2025.The PC103 bicycle path, which winds along the line, will grow by 1,300 metres in 2025.
Expansion of the Howald intermodal hub
The commissioning of the new line is unthinkable without the expansion of the Howald intermodal hub. With an additional platform, the CFL are equipping the Howald intermodal hub with the necessary infrastructure so that the operation of the train routes to/from Esch-sur-Alzette and Thionville can also be handled separately. An important element for improving punctuality.
Construction of the second platform is making great strides.In 2025, the new platform will be connected to the pedestrian bridge to the adjacent bus station and tram stop by means of lifts and/or stairs.After its completion in summer 2025, the CFL are going to use the period of the line closure in summer to upgrade and convert all tracks and switches south of Howald.In September, train traffic on the existing line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg can be routed via the new platform II.This will allow the CFL to create the necessary space to adjust the ground level in the direction of the route of the new line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg.Trains travelling from Esch-sur-Alzette will then be able to use the tracks along platform II in Howald.In 2027, trains travelling from France will then enter the main station via the tracks along platform I.
Platform IV will be adapted in 2025 and prepared for the new track layout.With five new switches and freshly laid tracks, the CFL are ensuring that trains from different lines will be able to run independently. This will minimise crossings and therefore delays.
Safety first
To ensure that the rail network remains in a healthy condition, the CFL are carrying out extensive maintenance and repair work again this year. In addition to the age-related renewal of tracks and other infrastructure, 2025 will also be characterised by the removal of level crossings. On average, 1-2 level crossings including barriers are removed every year.
Almost 38 kilometres of track will be renewed as part of the maintenance measures…… including 65,000 sleepers and 62,000 tonnes of ballast.This requires the use of heavy equipment, including the track renewal train (pictured here is the one from Swietelsky).On average, the track infrastructure has to be renewed every 20 to 30 years.Work to remove the level crossing in Dommeldange (PN13, pictured) will begin during 2025. The removal of the level crossing in Milbech (PN59) is also scheduled to begin in 2025.Due to the incorrect behaviour of many car/truck drivers and damage to barriers, delays and incidents that could have ended fatally occur every year.In addition to their construction work, the CFL are also continuing to raise awareness in this regard.
More comfort, more services in stations
To ensure that trains continue to be the public transport of choice, on-board comfort and practical, high-quality services play an important role. The CFL is counting on feedback from its customers in order to expand its range of services.
Plenty of space! By 2026, the CFL will offer 46% more seats with the commissioning of 34 new railcars. More Coradia’s will therefore also follow in 2025.– Like lightning: the first of 12 new electric buses will rejuvenate and electrify parts of the CFL’s bus fleet in 2025.– More life at the stations : In 2025, the CFL are expanding their commercial offer at other stations in the country. Further CFL cactus shoppi points of sale are planned in Mersch, Diekrich and Bettembourg.Inner values also count: the station building in Mersch is being renovated. From June 2025, a new CFL cactus shoppi shop will also be available to customers here.– Like new : Esch-sur-Alzette station was completely overhauled in 2024. Newly paved platforms, redesigned subways, seating on the platforms, freshly painted platform canopies, … The improvement work will be finalised in 2025.There will also be more comfort in Differdange, including heated waiting areas on the platforms.To make it easier for customers to park their cars and continue their journey by train, the CFL are continuing to build car parks in the immediate vicinity of the stations and CFL stops. Almost 800 new car parks will be available in Troisvierges, Wecker and Colmar-Berg by the end of 2025.
