Transport in Luxembourg
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Transport in Luxembourg is ensured principally by road, rail and air. There are also services along the river Moselle which forms the border with Germany. The road network has been significantly modernised in recent years with motorways to adjacent countries. The advent of the high-speed TGV link to Paris has led to renovation of the capital's main railway station while a new Schengen-only passenger terminal at Luxembourg Airport opened in 2017. Trams in the capital were reintroduced in December 2017 and there are plans for light-rail and/or tram-train lines in adjacent areas.
All public transport in Luxembourg (buses, trams, and trains) has been free to use since 29 February 2020, as part of a larger mobility experiment with goals to increase walking for short trips, increase bicycling, and increase the transit ridership sharply as the network is enlarged and service frequency is increased.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
RailwaysEdit
Template:See also Operated by Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL), Luxembourg's railways form the backbone of the country's public transport network, linking the most important towns. The total length of operational (standard gauge) track is Template:Cvt, though it was some Template:Cvt at the end of the Second World War. There are regular services from Luxembourg City to Ettelbruck, Esch-sur-Alzette, Wasserbillig and Kleinbettingen while international routes extend to Trier, Koblenz, Brussels, Liège, Metz and Nancy.<ref>Les transports en commun au Grand-Duché. Retrieved 3 March 2009.</ref>
The railway network links into Belgium, Germany and France. Some of the cross-border services are run by CFL, others by SNCF, NMBS/SNCB and DB.
There is now a frequent high-speed connection to Paris via the LGV Est line. EuroCap-Rail is a proposed high-speed axis connecting Brussels, Luxembourg (city), and Strasbourg.
RoadsEdit
Road networkEdit
The six Luxembourg motorways cover a total distance of Template:Cvt, linking the capital with Trier (Germany), Thionville (France) and Arlon (Belgium) as well as with Esch-sur-Alzette and Ettelbruck in Luxembourg. Luxembourg's motorways are toll free. The speed limit is normally Template:Cvt, Template:Cvt in rainy weather. With Template:Cvt of motorway per Template:Cvt, Luxembourg probably now has the highest density of motorways in Europe.<ref>Autostrade in Europe - Data updated to 1 January 2003 Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref>
Luxembourg City is a major business and financial center. Many workers prefer to live in the three neighboring countries and drive to work each day. This creates huge traffic jams during peak commuting hours. Tailbacks on the E411 motorway can extend five or more kilometers into Belgium and can take an hour or more to navigate.
The remaining road network in Luxembourg accounts for a total length of Template:Cvt, consisting of Template:Cvt of trunk roads (RN or routes nationales) and Template:Cvt of secondary roads (CR or chemins repris).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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Year (as of 01.01) | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2017 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [km] | [km] | [km] | [km] | [km] | [km] | [km] | [km] | ||
| Roads (total) | 2775 | 2820 | 2863 | 2875 | 2899 | 2908 | 2912 | 2914 | |
| Trunk roads | 869 | 869 | 837 | 837 | 837 | 837 | 837 | 839 | |
| Motorways | 78 | 123 | 115 | 147 | 152 | 161 | 165 | 165 | |
| Secondary roads | 1828 | 1828 | 1911 | 1891 | 1891 | 1891 | 1891 | 1891 |
Bus servicesEdit
Comprehensive bus services linking the towns and villages of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg are contracted out to private operators by the RGTR (Régime général des transports routiers) under the Ministry of Transport.<ref>Les autobus RGTR from Mobilitéits Zentral. Template:Webarchive Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref>
Luxembourg City is served by 250 of its own AVL (Autobus de la Ville de Luxembourg) buses transporting some 40 million passengers per year (2018).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 170 of these are, as with the RGTR, contracted out to private operators.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Most of these buses are in AVL colors but the owner's name is often mentioned on them in small print. Also, the letters on the license plate can give ownership away to those that know how that system works. There are 31 regular bus routes plus special bus services through the night.
The TICE or Syndicat des Tramways Intercommunaux dans le Canton d’Esch/Alzette operates several bus routes. They are centered on the city of Esch-sur-Alzette in the southeast of the country. Most are urban and suburban routes but some extend into the surrounding countryside.<ref>Intercommunaux du Canton d’Esch. Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref>
CFL, the Luxembourg railway company, operates some 17 bus routes, mainly serving towns and villages that are no longer served by rail.<ref>Horaires des lignes de bus CFL. Template:Webarchive Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref>
A number of smaller cities like Ettelbruck and Wiltz have started their own local services, some of which reach out to nearby villages. These services are not part of the RGTR and national tickets are not always honored.
All transport companies work together under the Verkéiersverbond, which covers all bus, tram, and train routes. Starting from 29 Feb 2020, all public transport was made free throughout the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, funded through general taxation. However first class tickets can still be purchased for use on the trains: a ticket valid for 2 hours is €3, whilst a one-day ticket is €6.
CyclingEdit
In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the EV5 Via Romea Francigena runs Template:Convert and follows a network of dedicated cycle paths from the Belgian border, through to its cliff-top capital city, and towards the French and German borders at Schengen. The EV5 follows the following national routes in Luxembourg: PC18, PC17, PC12, PC13, the Luxembourg-City route no. 10, PC1, PC11, PC7 and PC3.
In Luxembourg, the EV5 goes through Strassen, Luxembourg, Hesperange and Schengen. It then passes through back to France.
TramsEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Luxembourg City's historic tramway network closed in 1964 as part of a general decline of trams across Europe, but the city reintroduced trams at the end of 2017 with the construction of a new tram line (T1) opening in a phased approach. The final leg opened in March 2025. The line connects Luxembourg Airport to the EU institutions on the Kirchberg plateau, the city centre, Luxembourg Station, the new Cloche d'Or business district and national stadium.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Additional lines are foreseen, both in Luxembourg City, and extending to Esch-sur-Alzette as part of Luxembourg's National Mobility Plan 2035.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
WaterEdit
The river Moselle forms a Template:Cvt natural border between Luxembourg and Germany in the southeast of the country. In the summer months, the Princess Marie-Astrid and a few other tourist boats operate regular services along the river.<ref>MS Princesse Marie-Astrid. Entente Touristique de la Moselle. Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref>
Mertert near Grevenmacher on the Moselle is Luxembourg's only commercial port. With two quays covering a total length of Template:Cvt, it offers facilities connecting river, road and rail transport. It is used principally for coal, steel, oil, agricultural goods and building materials.<ref>Le Port de Mertert from Ministère des Transports. Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref> In 2016, the port handled 1.2 million tonnes of cargo.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
AirEdit
Luxembourg Airport at Findel, some Template:Cvt to the north of the city, is Luxembourg's only commercial airport. Thanks to its long runway (4,000 m), even large types of aircraft are able to use its facilities.<ref>Aviation from Ministère des Transports. Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref>
Luxair, Luxembourg's international airline, and Cargolux, a cargo-only airline, operates out of the airport. In 2008, the airport ranked as Europe's 5th largest and the world's 23rd by cargo tonnage.<ref>Cargo Traffic 2007 FINAL from Airports Council International. Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref>
Luxair has regular passenger services to 20 European destinations and operates tourist flights to 17 more.<ref>Luxair Winter Timetable 2008/2009. Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref> Other airlines operating flights to and from Luxembourg include British Airways, KLM, Scandinavian Airlines, Swiss Global Air Lines, and TAP Portugal.
A large new airport terminal building was opened in 2008 with more modern facilities, including an underground carpark.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In order to accommodate anticipated growth in travel within the Schengen Area, in 2016 an abandoned terminal was renovated to handle low-capacity and regional flights.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
PipelinesEdit
The trunk natural gas pipelines in Luxembourg have a total length of Template:Cvt (2007).<ref>CIA World Factbook - Luxembourg. Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref>
Russia and Norway are the main producers. The Luxembourg network is connected to Germany, France and Belgium.<ref>Infos gaz naturel - Au Luxembourg from Erdgas. Retrieved 4 March 2009.</ref>
Edit
Luxembourg has 150 vessels in its merchant navy. These include 4 bulk carriers, 1 container ship, 21 general cargo ships, 3 oil tankers, and 121 others.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
See alsoEdit
- The Integrated Traffic and Landscape Concept for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- Plug-in electric vehicles in Luxembourg
- Trams in Luxembourg
ReferencesEdit
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