Summer on the move: CFL’s 1,100 daily bus challenge
This summer, the CFL are not only reshaping railway infrastructure to prepare for the future of mobility. Luxembourg’s railway company is also coordinating a large-scale substitution bus service to ensure uninterrupted travel for passengers. Because service — with a capital “S” — never stops.
Safety comes first: during summer 2025, train service is suspended on four railway lines to allow for critical construction work, including the large-scale redevelopment of Howald station.
Behind the scenes, 200 dedicated drivers and dozens of teams are working daily until 14 September to keep over 1,100 replacement buses running – ensuring passengers and commuters stay connected even while the trains pause. These buses reinforce the RGTR network and ensure passengers have smooth, reliable alternatives during the rail works.
“Our replacement buses play a unique role,” Alex, Coordinator for Rail Traffic Replacement Services at CFL explains. “They’re designed to offer direct, end-to-end connections, manage high passenger volumes, and ensure smooth transitions back to the train — all to maintain a seamless travel experience.”
From Feedback to Action
Planning, coordination, anticipation, and strong partnerships are the pillars of CFL’s summer bus network operations. Behind the scenes, teams work tirelessly to ensure that every detail is aligned: from scheduling to on-the-ground logistics. “We operate with care and responsiveness,” Alex continues. “Despite the many challenges, our focus remains clear. We aim to deliver concrete solutions and make sure everything runs smoothly for our passengers.”
In 2024, the CFL fine-tuned its passenger handling strategy based on early feedback. Building on that experience, the system has been further improved this year by distributing bus flows across four key bus hubs — Luxembourg Bus Station, Rocade Station, Boulevard Paul Eyschen, and Luxexpo. This strategic move helps ease congestion at the central station and ensures a smoother experience for all passengers.
“We listen to the feedback we get. It shows how important mobility is in our lives. It pushes us to think, adjust, communicate better, and continuously improve,” adds Alex.
THANK YOU x5
“Behind every schedule, every replacement bus, there are faces, hours of passionate work, and above all, a constant desire to doing things right,” concludes Alex, who shares these five heartfelt thank-you notes:
✅ Thanks to our passengers — for their patience, understanding, and valuable suggestions.
✅ Thanks to our subcontractors and their teams — for stepping up during the summer, often sacrificing their holidays.
✅ Thanks to our construction crews — building the mobility of tomorrow.
✅ Thanks to ou CFL colleagues and summer job students — supporting travelers on the ground.
✅ Thanks to our public partners — especially the municipalities, Roads and Bridges Administration, and bus networks, for their active coordination.
The CFL prioritize weekends and school holidays for work requiring train traffic interruptions. These periods coincide with lower train ridership and greater availability of replacement buses from external providers.