On Saturday, shortly before 2pm, unit 2009 rolled into platform seven at Luxembourg City station to depart on its last round trip to Diekirch, bringing an era to a close.
These trains have covered more than four million kilometres since they first entered service. Ten units have already been sold to Romania, while one will remain in the country to join the collection of the railway museum in Pétange.
For many CFL employees, the farewell was an emotional one. Raoul Pettinger, a trained engine driver who has spent nearly four years operating Z2 units, explained that they formed part of his life long before he worked for the railways. He recalled travelling to school on them, completing his driver training on them, and even making his first solo run on the Z line in a Z2. As he put it, the trains are tied to strong memories from across his career.
The final service left Luxembourg City shortly before 2.30pm, stopping at eleven stations on the way to Diekirch. Crowds gathered on the platforms to photograph the train as it passed through, many wanting to experience the journey one last time.
The Z2’s story in Luxembourg began on 28 July 1990, with the delivery of the first unit to the CFL. The last arrived on 28 May 1992, bringing the fleet to 22 trains. Painted in yellow and red, they operated throughout the country until 2018 and became a familiar sight for generations of passengers.
Jacques Libar, who oversaw the Z2 fleet at CFL, described the trains as mechanically straightforward and robust. Their systems relied largely on relay-based technology, he explained, which meant maintenance teams could often resolve issues themselves without relying heavily on computer diagnostics. This simplicity made the Z2 a very easy machine to look after, he said.
Passengers on Saturday’s farewell run also shared their own stories. One person said they started working for the railways in 1977 with far older rolling stock, and the arrival of the Z2s had felt like a step into the modern age. Another recalled that, as a young couple unable to afford a car, he and his partner had relied entirely on the trains.
A third passenger noted that the Z2s had accompanied him throughout his working life: they entered service when he began his career, and now, as he approached retirement, the trains were “retiring” alongside him.
Shortly after 3pm, unit 2009 pulled into Diekirch for the last time. A group of people lined the platform to capture the moment. Pettinger explained that driving the Z2 required more manual finesse than modern trains, from gently easing the accelerator at departure to balancing electrical and pneumatic braking to avoid jolts.
At 3.20pm, the yellow-and-red train departed Diekirch station one final time, closing the chapter on one of Luxembourg’s most recognisable pieces of rolling stock.
