Two years after the start of the pandemic, the CFL expects the number of passengers to pick up again. Compared to 2019, the CFL recorded about 10 million fewer passengers in 2020.
Specifically, the number of passengers dropped from over 25 million in 2019 to 14.5 million in 2020. However, the CFL already observed an upwards trend in 2021 and estimates the number of passengers for that year at around 16.5 million.
The company expects more people to take the train again in 2022, stressing that it wants to be prepared for this trend. To this end, the CFL plans to expand its infrastructure to “guarantee passengers a certain degree of mobility at all times”.
The CFL is unsure whether the more recent increase in passengers is potentially also connected to the increase in fuel prices.
The expansion of the central railway station in Luxembourg City remains a major project. After construction focussed on the northern part of the tracks in 2021, focus will shift to the southern part in 2022. The company’s spokeswoman explained that the goal of the construction work is to create a railway station where “every line can operate independently of each other, with every line having its own set of tracks”. For passengers, this will mean that trains will be more punctual, as the new design will effectively eliminate the “domino effect”.
The CFL expects this project to be concluded by 2025. Another major project is the expansion of other railway stations across the country, including Ettelbruck, Mersch, and Rodange.
Capacities will also be increased through the new 7-kilometre-long railway line between Bettembourg and Luxembourg City.
