National infrastructure manager of Luxemburg
CFLIF
- CFL Gestion Infrastructure
Network length, gauge and electrification (2021):
- 271km standard gauge, 262km electrified at 25kV 50Hz
The railway network in Luxemburg is managed and maintained by state
operator CFL
with its infrastructure division. The company is supervised by the
Luxemburg state
authority for rail ACF (Administration des Chemins de Fer). The
locomotives and
shunters used for track maintenance are included in the CFL stock list.
Website: https://www.railinfra.lu/
Railway Operators in Luxemburg
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CFL - Société
Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxemburgeois
Network length, gauge and electrification (2021):
- standard gauge, electrified at 25kV 50Hz
Railway operation began in 1859 in Luxemburg, through Société Royale
Grand-Ducale des Chemins de Fer Guillaume-Luxembourg
(Königlich-Großherzogliche Wilhelm-Luxemburg Eisenbahngesellschaft)
[GL], which opened from 1859 until 1889:
- Luxembourg-Kleinbettingen-Arlon (Belgium)
- Luxembourg-Zouftgen (France)
- Luxembourg-Ettelbrück-Trois Vierges-Belgium (Gouvy-Trois
Ponts-Stavelot-Spa-Pepinster)
- Bettembourg-Esch sur Alzette-Audun le Tiche (France)
- Bettembourg-Duddelange
- Noertzange-Rummelange
- Trois Vierges-St Vith (Belgium)
As from day one, GL was directly managed by French Chemins de Fer de
l’Est [Est]. In 1868, a new concessionary, Chemins de Fer Prince-Henri
SA (Prinz-Heinrich Bahnen AG) [PH] was set up, so as to operate new yet
more secondary lines, opened from 1873 until 1891:
- Kautenbach-Wiltz-Bastogne ( Belgium )
- A circle line stretching from Esch sur Alzette until
Grevenmacher, via Pétange, Kleinbettingen, Noerdange, Ettelbrück (GL)
Diekirch, Echternach and Wasserbillig
As a result of the Treaty of Frankfurt 1871, GL passed under control of
the Kaiserliche General-Direktion der Eisenbahnen in Elsaß-Löthringen
[EL], which took over all railway lines from Est in Northern Lorraine
and Alsace .
From 1882 until 1904, narrow-gauge (1,000m) lines were also opened and
operated by:
- Chemins de Fer Secondaires Luxembourgeois (Luxemburger
Sekundärbahnen) [CSL]: Luxembourg-Remich, Cruchten-Larochette
- Chemins de Fer Cantonaux (Kantonalbahngesellchaft) [CC]:
Diekirch-Vianden, Noerdange-Martelange
- Chemins de Fer Vivinaux (Vizinalbahnen) [CV]:
Luxembourg-Echternach, Bettembourg-Aspelt
- Prince-Henri [PH]: Dillingen-Beaufort/Grundhof
Under the Treaty of Versailles 1919, GL passed to Chemins de Fer
d’Alsace-Lorraine [AL], a company wholly-owned by France and which took
over EL lines. In 1934, CSL, CC and CV were merged into Chemins de Fer
à Voie Étroite (Luxemburger Schmalspurbahnen) [CVE]. Following the
French Nationalisation Act 1937, GL was directly managed by the Eastern
Branch of newly-founded SNCF.
In 1946, the Grand-Duchy of Luxemburg signed a convention with the
French Republic and the Kingdom of Belgium, under which GL, PH and CVE
were merged into SNCFL SA (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer
Luxembourgeois) [CFL]. As from day one, this public limited company was
held for 51% by Luxemburg, while France and Belgium held 24.5% each.
Narrow-gauge lines closed down in stages from 1948 until 1954, while
ex-PH lines were cut back to Kautenbach-Wiltz, Ettelbrück-Diekirch and
Esch sur Alzette-Rodange in 1954/1968.
Passenger traffic is primarily driven by commuters working in the
City of Luxemburg, often coming from France, Belgium and Germany. In
2006, CFL and Arcelor-Mittal set up a joint-subsidiary, CFL-Cargo,
which took over most of the Freight business of CFL and EuroCargoLux,
save intermodal services.
CFL takes part to various extends in the operation of regional and
mainline passenger services to/from France, Belgium and Germany.
However, it wholly operates 2 lines into French territory, without
being associated with SNCF:
- Dudelange-Volmerange les Mines, on a newly-built line (2003),
whose infrastructure is wholly-owned by CFL
- Esch sur Alzette-Audun le Tiche (since 1992), owned and managed
by RFF on the French side, although this is now an island isolated from
the remainder of RFF, as the branch line from Fontoy closed down in
1997.
In 2018 the railway line from the border with Belgium at Kleinbettingen
to Luxembourg (City) was re-electrified at 25kV AC, therefore only dual
voltage locomotives and trainsets can now be used for international
trains. In 2024 a new line from Bettembourg to Luxemburg (City) will
open.
In 2023 a record 28.7 million passengers travelled with CFL.
Website: http://www.cfl.lu/
Stock Tables:
CFLCA -
Société
Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxemburgeois - Cargo
Network length, gauge and electrification (2004):
CFL-Cargo was set up in 2006 to take over the whole of CFL freight
business (including EuroLuxCargo), save traction of Intermodal
services. CFL-Cargo is held by CFL for 66% and Arcelor-Mittal for 33%
(through Arcelor Profil Luxembourg).
CFL-Cargo controls 2 other railway operators:
- CFL-Cargo Danmark (CFLCD, ex Dansk Jernbane ApS)
- CFL-Cargo Deutschland (CFLDE, NEG Uetersen – Nord
Eisenbahngesellschaft
mbH)
CFL-Cargo currently holds safety certificates for Luxemburg and France.
In 2009 6.6 million tonnes of freight (25% less than in 2008) was
transported, producing 593 million tonne-km.
CFL Cargo Danmark was sold in 2023 and is now Viking Rail.
Website: http://www.cflcargo.eu/
Stock Tables:
Last update: 14-04-2024