Thirty-One Million

CFL, Luxembourg's national railway, carried 31.4 million passengers last year. A new record, up 0.6% from 2024, and more than double what it was 20 years ago. The numbers were announced at a press conference on Monday by CEO Marc Wengler, who described the growth as positive but acknowledged the obvious: capacity limits have been reached on some lines during peak hours.[1]

The railway is not standing still. Longer trains are already running on the busiest routes, including the Sillon Lorrain transit corridor. The bigger change is still ahead: a new line between Bettembourg and Luxembourg City, expected to enter service in autumn 2027, which will double capacity on the country's most overloaded route and accommodate trains carrying around 1'000 passengers each.

Until then, patience. Punctuality dipped from 90.8% to 89.6% in 2025, partly due to strikes in neighbouring countries and ongoing works at Howald and on the southern section of Luxembourg City station. More closures are coming in summer 2027 for the final connection of the new line. Wengler called it the last push in a project that has lasted more than a decade, arguing that a few weeks of disruption was acceptable in that context.

Financially, 2025 was also a record. Group turnover reached 1.3 billion euros, with a profit of 35.3 million. Infrastructure investment alone exceeded 327 million euros, most of it directed at the Bettembourg line and new rolling stock.

Customer satisfaction rose to 3.84 out of 5 in CFL's quality barometer, which surveyed nearly 7'000 people. The company credited new waiting rooms, digital information displays, larger trains, and new retail options at certain stations.

Not everyone is satisfied. Cyclists have complained about a lack of space on trains, particularly during peak hours. CFL said new trains with more carriages would offer additional bicycle space, and that more bike boxes and multimodal travel options are being developed.

There was also a change at the top. Jean-Paul Lickes will take over as chairman of the board of directors from Jeannot Waringo, who is stepping down after more than four decades on the board. Lickes described the role as a major responsibility and thanked Waringo for the foundations he had laid.

So the numbers are good, the investment is real, and the biggest capacity increase in a generation is 18 months away. In the meantime, you might want to avoid the 8:07 from Bettembourg if you are carrying a bicycle.