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CFL chief Marc Wengler has outlined the rationale behind summer railway works, while also commenting on issues of assault on staff and recruitment difficulties in a Tuesday morning interview on RTL Radio.
The Luxembourg National Railway Company (CFL) strategically schedules its major construction projects for the summer holiday period to minimise passenger disruption, Director General Marc Wengler explained in a Tuesday morning interview with our colleagues from RTL Radio.
"We take advantage of the summer holidays, when there are fewer passengers, many people are on holiday, and there is no student transport", Wengler said. This approach is particularly crucial for the new line under construction between Bettembourg and Luxembourg City, which saw significant work in Howald this summer.
CFL's Director General: Marc Wengler. / © Anne Wolff - rtl.lu
Wengler noted that organising large-scale replacement bus services is only feasible in the summer when buses and drivers are not committed to school routes. The Bettembourg line replacement service alone required "around 1,100 bus journeys and 200 additional drivers". Despite the scale of the works, Wengler remains optimistic about the project's timeline, stating, "We are still confident that we will be able to start commercial service on the new line in 2027."
The director general emphasised that the extensive works are necessary because the railway network is operating at full capacity and requires regular renewal – approximately 30km of track per year.
While disruptive in the short term, these projects ultimately lead to better punctuality, Wengler pointed out. He explained that Luxembourg's network is "very particular", with six main lines all converging at Luxembourg City station, which sees over 1,000 trains pass through daily. "We see today that even a small disruption has major consequences for the entire network", he noted.
The current expansion is part of a broader concept that has already included enlarging Luxembourg City station, laying double track in Sandweiler, and expanding stations in Mersch and Rodange. "At the end of this concept, in 2027, the line from France and the line from Esch [...] will be able to run independently of each other all the way to Luxembourg City", Wengler stressed. This separation, he assured, will significantly improve train punctuality across the network.
Assaults on railway staff
In 2024, CFL recorded 216 assaults on its staff. While Wengler could not confirm if this represents an increasing trend, he stated, "Unfortunately, it is not decreasing. If you relate this figure to the number of passengers, I would say it is perhaps slightly higher than in recent years."
In response, Wengler outlined several initiatives the company is taking. These begin with staff training and the deployment of security personnel. "In fact, we are one of the only railway companies to have staff on board trains [...] and additional security staff," he pointed out. CFL has increased the number of security staff in recent years, employing an external security firm to patrol the most critical trains and busiest times. The company also relies on surveillance cameras both on trains and in stations as a further deterrent.
Challenges in night shift recruitment
As the country's largest employer with over 5,200 staff, CFL continues to attract applicants, hiring more than 500 new employees last year and receiving over 2,000 applications monthly. However, Wengler acknowledged a specific recruitment challenge: finding personnel willing to work shifts and night hours. To widen the talent pool, the company has recently adjusted its criteria: new hires are no longer required to know Luxembourgish upon hiring, with the option to learn the language through CFL.
Legal action following August fatality
Regarding the tragedy in Leudelange, where a young man was hit by a train in August, the family recently announced its intention to take legal action against CFL. Wengler noted that, to date, no formal complaint has been filed with the company. Out of respect for the family, Wengler declined to comment further on the matter.
