Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois

The Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (''Luxembourg National Railway Company'', abbreviated CFL) is the national railway company of Luxembourg. In 2013, it carried approximately 25 million passengers and 804 million tonnes of goods. The company employs 3,090 people, making CFL the country's seventh-largest corporate employer.

The Luxembourg rail system comprises 275 route-kilometres (170 miles), of which is double track and single track. Of the total track length of , are electrified at 25 kV, 50 Hz.

Luxembourg borders Belgium, France and Germany. Correspondingly, there are cross-border services into these countries. Some are wholly run by CFL, whereas others are run by SNCF, NMBS/SNCB and DB. CFL passenger trains cover most of the network.

CFL operates most of its passenger trains using EMUs and electric locomotives with push-pull stock. The company also has a fleet of diesel locomotives for hauling freight trains and for general shunting purposes.

Luxembourg is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Luxembourg is 82.

History

CFL is the result of a nationalisation of private railway companies in 1946.
* History of rail transport in Luxembourg

CFL operations and services

Passenger train routes

CFL advertises its passenger network as made up of seven lines:

* Line 10 Luxembourg – Troisvierges-Frontière – Liège (Belgium), Kautenbach – Wiltz and Ettelbrück – Diekirch
* Line 30 Luxembourg – Wasserbillig-Frontière – Trier (Germany)
*Line 50 Luxembourg – Kleinbettingen-Frontière – Brussels (Belgium)
*Line 60 Luxembourg – Esch-sur-Alzette – Rodange, Bettembourg – Volmerange-les-Mines (France), Noetzange – Rumelange and Esch-sur-Alzette – Audun-le-Tiche (France)
*Line 70 Luxembourg – Rodange – Athus (Belgium), Rodange – Longwy (France)
* Line 90 Luxembourg – Thionville (France) – Metz (France) – Nancy (France)

Internally it uses a different system with more sub divisions:

* Ligne 1 Luxembourg – Troisvierges-Frontière, 1a Ettelbruck – Diekirch, 1b Kautenbach – Wiltz
* Ligne 2a Kleinbettingen – Steinfort, 2b Ettelbruck – Bissen
* Ligne 3 Luxembourg – Wasserbillig-Frontière via Sandweiler-Contern
* Ligne 4 Luxembourg – Berchem – Oetrange, 4a Luxembourg - Alzingen
* Ligne 5 Luxembourg – Kleinbettingen-Frontière
* Ligne 6 Luxembourg – Bettembourg-Frontière, 6a Bettembourg – Esch/Alzette, 6b Bettembourg – Dudelange-Usines (Volmerange), 6c Noertzange – Rumelange, 6d Tétange – Langengrund, 6e Esch-sur-Alzette – Audun-le-Tiche, 6f Esch-sur-Alzette – Pétange, 6g Pétange – Rodange-Frontière (Aubange), 6h Pétange – Rodange-Frontière (Mont St. Martin), 6j Pétange – Rodange-Frontière (Athus), 6k Brucherberg – Scheuerbusch
* Ligne 7 Luxembourg – Pétange

Rail links to adjacent countries

All neighbouring railways use the same gauge but differing electrification types, listed below:
* Belgium – 3 kV DC
* France – 25 kV AC
* Germany – 15 kV AC

Ridership

Passenger ridership carried on CFL-trains for each fiscal year (x 1000).

*1938: 9,505
*1950: 10,607
*1960: 10,643
*1970: 12,531
*1980: 14,053
*1990: 12,692
*2000: 12,985
*2006: 14,793
*2007: 16,442
*2008: 17,676
*2009: 17,039
*2010: 17,996
*2011: 18,200
*2012: 19,834
*2013: 20,714
*2014: 21,503
*2015: 22,496
*2016: 22,459
*2017: 22,930
*2018: 23,331
*2019: 25,016

Passenger kilometers on CFL-trains for each fiscal year (x 1,000,000).

*1938: 215
*1950: 227
*1960: 230
*1970: 256
*1980: 302
*1990: 261
*2000: 332
*2006: 298
*2007: 233
*2008: 345
*2009: 333
*2010: 347
*2011: 349
*2012: 373
*2013: 385
*2014: 409
*2015: 418
*2016: 417
*2017: 438
*2018: 443
*2019: 463

Rolling stock

CFL owns a relatively modern fleet of passenger trains, with a majority of double-decker trains. Nearly all routes are operated with electric trains.
* CFL locomotives and rolling stock

Projects

In 2019, doubling of track between Luxembourg railway station and Sandweiler-Contern at a cost of €462 million was completed, following an original planned 2013 opening. A new, more direct, line between Luxembourg and Bettembourg is due to open in 2024.

See also

* CFL Cargo Denmark
* Trams in Luxembourg
* Transport in Luxembourg

Footnotes

External links

*
CFL official website
*
2006 Annual Report

Collection of Google Earth locations of CFL stations
(Require
Google Earth software
from the Google Earth Community forum.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois

Companies
01
Government-owned companies of Luxembourg
Companies based in Luxembourg City
Railway companies established in 1946
1946 establishments in Europe
1946 in Luxembourg