© Domingos Oliveira/ RTL Luxembourg
From Findel to the stadium, from Hollerich to the CHL… In ten years the tram network will expand in order to cover the entire capital.
Last Friday, the ministry of mobility and Luxtram announced their future expansion of the tram network. A much more complete connection is the plan for Luxembourg City, since the main areas will hold even more tracks and new routes in less than ten years.
Where to start? The airport: The extension to Findel will be ready in March 2025. “On this new track, measuring 3.9km, the tram will stop at two new stops, ‘Héienhaff P+R’ and ‘Findel Luxembourg-Airport’. The tests and trials of the route should start at the beginning of December this year” explains Luxtram.
By 2023, the tram will span across the Hollerich area, route d'Esch and the route d'Arlon / © Luxtram
At the other end of the route T1, Luxtram is going to build a new depot as well as connections with the future high-speed tram which will drive as far as Esch-sur-Alzette.
This “Tramsschapp”, or storage centre, will serve for the city trams and the high-speed tram. The construction works are planned to start in 2026 at the latest, for an initiation in 2030 or earlier.
The future refurbishment centre at the Cloche d'Or / © Luxtram
Kirchberg, Hollerich and the CHL are the top contenders
Once the expansions of route T1 are done in 2025, the construction focus will circle back to Kirchberg again.
Starting from the Red bridge, the boulevard Adenauer is going to be modified to receive a new tram track, which will transport passengers up to the future Kuebebierg area, before turning to the Luxexpo station. The route ‘K2A’ will notably stop at BEI (Banque Européenne d’Investissement) and at the European school too.
Luxtram clarifies: “the start of the construction works is meant to begin in the first semester of 2025, and the putting into service should happen as early as 2027.”
Starting at the red bridge, the tram will take the ‘K2A’ tram line up the boulevard Adenauer (Luxtram) / © Luxtram
Hollerich will not be missed
No reason to holler just yet: although the tram bypasses the central station to drive towards Gasperich, the neighbouring area of Hollerich is going to be served by a section of the tram as well. The addition will measure 1.1km and offers two new stops to the user. The route passes close to “Nei Hollerich”, which is built between the railways, the route d’Esch and the rue de Hollerich.
For this project, Luxtram plans on beginning the works in 2027, for a commissioning in 2029. Basically, shortly after the arrival of the first inhabitants of the new neighbourhood.
A glimpse of the tram line in Hollerich, built parallel to the railway line, just in front of the new ‘Nei Hollerich’ (Luxtram) district. / © Luxtram
The tram tackles Route d'Esch
Concerning the south side of the capital, studies are in process to add a track of 4.2km along Route d’Esch, between Place de l’Etoile and the already existing route via the stadium.
The actual second route of the capital, parallel to the ‘Stade-Findel’ line, will connect the neighbourhoods of Belair, Gasperich, and Cessange. It should be ready for the public use in 2031.
Nevertheless, the government still needs to develop a draft bill which is expected for the ’end of 2025 / beginning of 2026’. Currently, studies about the concept of the route are ongoing.
The planned tram line along the Route d'Esch. / © Luxtram
Last but not least, the route d’Arlon and the link to CHL
New studies by Luxtram have resulted in the company winning three years: in 2032, the route d’Arlon will also be a part of Luxtram’s network. There will notably also be an underground passage of 550 metres.
This last track is going to connect and stop at the future neighbourhood which is planned to be built where Stade Josy Barthel is. Moreover, the tram is supposed to be a direct link to the Centre Hospitaliser Luxembourg, CHL. With a length of 2.2km, the route offers four stops, all above ground.
The costs of the new track are estimated at €140 million. The government will present their draft bill for this expansion at the end of 2025.
