Following a strong year in 2025, national railway company CFL has reported positive results, with record passenger numbers, high levels of investment, and improved customer satisfaction, despite a slight increase in delays compared with the previous year.
Last year, 31.4 million passengers used CFL trains, an increase of 0.6% and a new record. Although growth was lower than in previous years, CEO Marc Wengler sees the figure in a positive light.
Wengler noted that passenger numbers had more than doubled over the past 20 years. However, he added that capacity limits had now been reached on some lines during peak hours.
For that reason, he said CFL was pleased to already be able to offer longer trains on some of the busiest lines, including the transit route Sillon Lorrain. He also pointed to the new railway line that is due to be connected next year, which will double capacity between Bettembourg and Luxembourg City and allow longer trains carrying around 1,000 passengers each to be used.
CFL is also optimistic about customer satisfaction. In its so-called quality barometer, which surveyed almost 7,000 people, the score rose to 3.84 out of 5.
For CFL, this result is mainly due to a number of improvements made in recent months, including new waiting rooms, digital information displays in stations, larger trains, and new retail options at certain stations.
Financially, 2025 was a record year for CFL. The group's turnover rose to €1.3 billion, while profit reached €35.3 million. Major investments were made above all in expanding the rail network and acquiring new rolling stock. Infrastructure investment alone amounted to more than €327 million.
Much of this concerns one of the country's most important projects: the new line between Luxembourg City and Bettembourg. It is expected to enter service in autumn 2027 and double capacity on the overloaded route.
Until then, passengers will still need to be patient, as major works are expected to continue causing disruptions and delays.
Train punctuality fell slightly in 2025, from 90.8% to 89.6%. According to CFL, this was due in part to strikes in neighbouring countries, as well as works at Howald and on the southern section of the Luxembourg City train station.
Things are also expected to become more complicated again in 2027. Wengler confirmed that there would once again be major closures on the Luxembourg–Bettembourg line in summer 2027.
He described this as the final push in the works, explaining that several weeks of major works would be needed for the definitive connection of the new line.
CFL nevertheless put this into perspective, arguing that, compared with a project that has lasted more than a decade, this period remains acceptable.
There has also recently been criticism from cyclists, who have complained about a lack of space on trains.
CFL acknowledged the problem, particularly during peak hours. However, the company said new trains with more carriages would offer additional space for bicycles. It also noted that more bike boxes and options for multimodal travel are being developed.
A significant personnel change was also announced at the press conference: Jean-Paul Lickes will become the new chairman of CFL's board of directors. He takes over 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 solid foundations he had laid over the years.
