Luxembourg - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable year 15 December 2024 to 13 December 2025, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained here.
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. References prefixed "ERA-R" refer to the European Railway Atlas (Regional Series: Book 1) by M.G. Ball.
An additional map reference in italics for some entries refers to Eisenbahnatlas Frankreich Band 1: Nord by Schweers + Wall.
Obscure services
Luxembourg — Luxembourg Triage (yard) — Luxembourg Sud — Berchem Est — Syren — Oetrange
[30] (ERA-E 39B1,39B-C4; ERA-R 63B3; ) LU25/1
This route, which starts by running south from the east side of Luxembourg station through Luxembourg Triage (freight yard), provides an alternative route between Luxembourg station and the Trier line. It has been used by trains which did not stop at Cents Hamm or Sandweiler Contern and are given 2 – 4 minutes longer than usual. The route was common with LU24/1A as far as Berchem Nord junction. There are no services in the 2024/25 timetable.
Use of this route is now less likely as the normal exit route from Luxembourg station, shared with line 10, has been four tracked. In addition the single line section of Line 30 has also been double tracked through to Sandweiler Contern. Finally, recent engineering works which have closed the line through Cents Hamm have seen bus replacement rather than diversion via Oetrange.
Luxembourg avoiding line: Bertrange-Strassen (Luxembourg Hollerich, km 1.4) — Luxembourg Sud (km 14.0) via Luxembourg Triage (yard)
(ERA-E 39B1; ERA-R 63C5) LU25/2
This line, which avoids Luxembourg City to the south, links the line from Belgium via Arlon with the line to France via Thionville. The compilers are not aware of any booked passenger services over this route at present, although plans exist for future services to serve a new station at Cessange.
Bettembourg avoiding line: Hettange-Grande [France] (Bettembourg-M) — Noertzange (Bettembourg-W)
(ERA-E 39B1; ERA-R 63C5) LU25/3
Special services run during the 2024 Paris Olympics used this route, while Bettembourg station was totally closed for local engineering work, in July and August 2024, with CFL Line 90 services, from Luxembourg - Bettembourg - Thionville, replaced by buses also. Bettembourg station fully re-opened on 16 September 2024.
The most recent use of this route, prior to that above, was when a few rush hour trains between Luxembourg and Thionville were diverted via this curve in February 2018, when Line 90, between Luxembourg and Bettembourg, was completely closed.
Other Sparse services
| 60a | Dudelange-Usines – Volmerange-les-Mines (F) | No Sunday service. |
| 60b | Noertzange – Rumelange | Limited weekday peak-only service. No Sunday service. |
| 60c | Esch-sur-Alzette – Audun-le-Tiche (F) | All day on weekdays; mornings and evenings only on Saturdays. No Sunday service. |
| 70 | Rodange – Longwy (F) | Mornings, midday and early evenings on weekdays. Very limited early morning and early evening service on Saturdays. No Sunday service. |
Deletions since last edition
LU24/1A Luxembourg — Luxembourg Triage (yard) — Luxembourg Sud — Berchem Nord – Berchem Sud — Berchem
Work on building a second island platform at Howald is well underway in autumn 2024. After removal of numerous tracks this obscure route no longer seems to exist. This work will continue through the duration of the timetable, probably beyond, and when it finally re-opens the layout will be different. The plan is for L90 services to France to use the new platform with L60 services to Esch running as at present. It is not clear yet how L90 services will cross the current mainline to access the new line to Bettembourg (scheduled to open in 2028). The compliers would welcome updates on this route and the proposed final layout at Howald.
