The Mersch CFL station enters a new dimension
The modernisation and expansion works at the CFL Mersch station were officially completed in September 2023, and the station has transformed it into an intermodal hub. A showcase for public mobility services designed to make it easier for passengers to travel daily, particularly to the capital.
The work will have a direct impact on people’s quality of life. As the Minister for Mobility and Public Works, François Bausch, pointed out at the time of the inauguration on 18 September 2023, the new facilities at Mersch station are of tangible benefit to the local population and, more broadly, to customers in the centre of the country.
At the crossroads of several transport networks, Mersch station has been brought up to the standard of modern, high-performance, multimodal mobility. An efficient combination of transport modes has become essential to maintain fluid mobility and, above all, to take concrete action to reduce the carbon footprint of mobility.
Multimodal mobility, à la carte
Mersch station – which welcomes 5,400 customers every working day – is logically organised around CFL rail transport. Popular with customers, the train is thinking ahead to continue to meet their growing demand. This has meant, among other things, the gradual lengthening of station platforms and rail stops.
At Mersch, the two platforms have been widened and extended to 250 and 270 metres respectively. These “XXL” platforms will be able to accommodate longer trains and therefore offer more seats to customers, in line with the gradual introduction – from 2024 – of the Coradia Stream High Capacity trains, which will increase the number of seats available to CFL customers by 46% by 2025.
In addition to the increased capacity provided by the new platforms, there is also greater flexibility thanks to the addition of 8 switches to the south and north of the station. This is the optimum configuration for fully operating the station’s 3 tracks and offering 16 additional daily trains to Mersch and 13 additional daily trains to Luxembourg from Monday to Saturday. These new capacities will improve services between the north and south of the country, with trains now running between Pétange and Mersch.
Comfort and accessibility at the heart of the project
Based on collaboration with the Commune of Mersch and the Administration des Ponts & Chaussées, the works at Mersch station were carried out with due regard for accessibility to and within the site. A temperature-controlled shelter has been designed for the comfort of customers. 116 bicycle parking spaces are available.
One of the stations of tomorrow
Mersch station is ready to welcome a large number of customers, including the future residents of the planned neighbouring area. The station’s passenger building will now continue its transformation. From autumn 2023, this will be renovated in line with the “station of tomorrow” concept.
Designed by the CFL in collaboration with a panel of customers, the “station of tomorrow” concept is a new approach to services that complement the CFL’s mobility solutions in order to improve the customer experience in stations and rail stops.
In line with this approach, the complete refurbishment of the interior of the Mersch Passenger Building (its exterior is protected at municipal and national level) will culminate in the opening of a 2nd CFL cactus shoppi convience store on the ground floor.
A new chapter in the life of this station, which was opened in 1862. Between heritage and modernity, the CFL continue to write the history of mobility by looking to the future, without denying a precious past.
Also worth reading In the south of the country, by the end of 2023 CFL will have completed the redevelopment of Rodange station, with the same vision: to offer high-quality multimodal mobility based around the train.