Luxembourgish authorities have set 1 January 2020 as the date for which all trains travelling through Luxembourg must be fitted with the new European Rail Traffic Management Systems, which concern signalling and management standards. France will not be able to update its fleet passing into Luxembourg by the deadline and consequently requested an extension, which was rejected by Minister for Mobility and Public Works François Bausch.
Initially, the SNCF announced that only ten of its trains would be compliant, but has now announced that twelve trains will be able to travel from France to Luxembourg in January 2020. The remainder of the fleet will only be ready in June.
What does this mean for train users? The 12,000 daily commuters using the Nancy-Metz-Luxembourg line will have be patient and change trains at Thionville.
Currently, four trains are equipped with new ERTMS standards and a fifth one equipped with the system will be introduced next week, after it has completed its final operation and maintenance tests.
Each train has to be taken out of use for a month in order for the work installing its security system to take place. Trains must also be tested.
The SNCF has described this as a ‘complex and heavy programme’ which requires €28.26 million. The Grand Est region is covering the funds, albeit with a European subsidy of €5.125 million.
