Transport in Luxembourg
Encyclopedia
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 city's railway station
while a new passenger terminal at Luxembourg Airport
has recently been opened. There are plans to introduce tram
s in the capital and light-rail lines in adjacent areas.
(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 274 km, though it was some 550 km 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
, Brussels
, Liège
, Metz
and Nancy.
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.
The six Luxembourg motorways cover a total distance of 147 km, 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 130 km/h, 110 km/h in rainy weather. With 56.8 km of motorway per 1,000 km2, Luxembourg probably now has the highest density of motorways in Europe
.
The remaining road network in Luxembourg accounts for a total length of 2,820 km, consisting of 798 km of trunk roads (RN or routes nationales) and 2,022 km of secondary roads (CR or chemins ruraux).
Luxembourg City is served by 163 buses transporting some 28 million passengers per year (2007). There are 25 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 in the south-east of the country.
CFL, the Luxembourg railway company, operates some 17 bus routes, mainly serving towns and villages not accessible by rail.
and then to Luxembourg Airport
. There are also plans to create light rail
networks in several areas near the capital.
in the south-east of the country. Especially in the summer months, the Marie-Astrid tourist boat operates regular services along the river.
Mertert
near Grevenmacher
on the Moselle is Luxembourg's only commercial port. With two quays covering a total length of 1.6 km, it offers facilities connecting river, road and rail transport. It is used principally for coal, steel, oil, agricultural goods and building materials.
Luxair
, Luxembourg's international airline, and Cargolux
, a cargo-only airline, operate out of the airport. In 2008, the airport ranked as Europe’s 5th largest and the world’s 23rd by cargo tonnage.
Luxair
has regular passenger services to 20 European destinations and operates tourist flights to 17 more. Other airlines operating flights to and from Luxembourg include British Airways
, KLM, SAS
, Swiss European Air Lines
, and TAP Portugal
.
A large new airport terminal building was opened in 2008 with excellent facilities, including a huge underground carpark.
Russia
and Norway
are the main producers. The Luxembourg network is connected to Germany
, France
and Belgium
.
:
Total:
45 ships
Ships by type:
bulk 6, cargo 3, chemical tanker 15, container 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 9
note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience
: Belgium 7, Denmark
1, France 17, Germany 5, Netherlands
2, United Kingdom
8, United States
4 (2008 est.)
Registered in other countries: Ukraine
1
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The road network has been significantly modernised in recent years with motorways to adjacent countries. The advent of the high-speed TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
link to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
has led to renovation of the city's railway station
Luxembourg railway station
Luxembourg railway station is the main railway station serving Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is operated by Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois, the state-owned railway company....
while a new passenger terminal at Luxembourg Airport
Luxembourg-Findel International Airport
Findel Airport is the main airport in Luxembourg.It is Luxembourg's only international airport and is the only airport in the country with a paved runway. It is located away from Luxembourg City....
has recently been opened. There are plans to introduce tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s in the capital and light-rail lines in adjacent areas.
Railways
Operated by Chemins de Fer LuxembourgeoisChemins de Fer Luxembourgeois
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois is the national railway company of Luxembourg. In 2005, the company carried approximately 14.1 million passengers and 11.7 million tonnes of goods...
(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
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
) track is 274 km, though it was some 550 km at the end of the Second World War. There are regular services from Luxembourg City
Luxembourg railway station
Luxembourg railway station is the main railway station serving Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is operated by Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois, the state-owned railway company....
to Ettelbruck
Ettelbruck
Ettelbruck is a commune with city status in central Luxembourg, with a population of approximately 7,500. As of 2005, the town of Ettelbruck itself, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 6,191. The town of Warken and Grentzingen are also within the commune...
, Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
, Wasserbillig
Wasserbillig
Wasserbillig is a town in the commune of Mertert, in eastern Luxembourg. , Wasserbillig has 2,186 inhabitants, which makes it the largest town in Mertert. It lies at the confluence of the rivers Moselle and Sauer, which form the border with Germany at the town...
and Kleinbettingen
Kleinbettingen
Kleinbettingen is a small town in the commune of Steinfort, in western Luxembourg. As of 2005, the town has a population of 855....
while international routes extend to Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
and Nancy.
The railway network links into Belgium, Germany and France. Some of the cross-border services are run by CFL, others by SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
, NMBS/SNCB and DB
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
.
There is now a frequent high-speed
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
connection to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
via the LGV Est
LGV Est
The LGV Est européenne is an extension to the French high-speed rail network, connecting currently Vaires-sur-Marne and Baudrecourt , and later Vaires-sur-Marne and Vendenheim . , it is the newest high-speed line in France and still under construction, with of a planned in service...
line.
Road network
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
(Germany), Thionville
Thionville
Thionville , is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. The city is located on the left bank of the river Moselle, opposite its suburb Yutz.-Demographics:...
(France) and Arlon (Belgium) as well as with Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
and Ettelbruck
Ettelbruck
Ettelbruck is a commune with city status in central Luxembourg, with a population of approximately 7,500. As of 2005, the town of Ettelbruck itself, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 6,191. The town of Warken and Grentzingen are also within the commune...
in Luxembourg. Luxembourg's motorways are toll free. The speed limit is normally 130 km/h, 110 km/h in rainy weather. With 56.8 km of motorway per 1,000 km2, Luxembourg probably now has the highest density of motorways in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
The remaining road network in Luxembourg accounts for a total length of 2,820 km, consisting of 798 km of trunk roads (RN or routes nationales) and 2,022 km of secondary roads (CR or chemins ruraux).
Bus services
Comprehensive bus services linking the towns and villages of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg are controlled by the RGTR (Régime général des transports routiers) under the Ministry of Transport.Luxembourg City is served by 163 buses transporting some 28 million passengers per year (2007). There are 25 regular bus routes plus special bus services through the night.
The TICE or Syndicat des tramways intercommunaux dans le canton d’Esch/Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette (canton)
Esch-sur-Alzette is a canton in the south-west of Luxembourg, in Luxembourg District. The capital is Esch-sur-Alzette.The canton consists of the following 14 communes:*Bettembourg*Differdange*Dudelange*Esch-sur-Alzette*Frisange*Kayl*Leudelange...
operates several bus routes in the south-east of the country.
CFL, the Luxembourg railway company, operates some 17 bus routes, mainly serving towns and villages not accessible by rail.
Plans for reintroducing trams
Luxembourg's last tramline closed in 1964 but the city is now planning to reintroduce trams by 2012, initially from the central station to KirchbergKirchberg, Luxembourg
Kirchberg or the Kirchberg is a quarter in north-eastern Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It consists of a plateau situated to the north-east of the city centre, Ville Haute....
and then to Luxembourg Airport
Luxembourg-Findel International Airport
Findel Airport is the main airport in Luxembourg.It is Luxembourg's only international airport and is the only airport in the country with a paved runway. It is located away from Luxembourg City....
. There are also plans to create light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
networks in several areas near the capital.
Water
The River Moselle forms a 42 km natural border between Luxembourg and GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the south-east of the country. Especially in the summer months, the Marie-Astrid tourist boat operates regular services along the river.
Mertert
Mertert
Mertert is a commune and town in eastern Luxembourg, on the border with Germany. It is part of the canton of Grevenmacher, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. The commune consists of the towns of Mertert and Wasserbillig. Mertert has a river port on the Moselle, the largest in Luxembourg...
near Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher is a commune with city status in eastern Luxembourg, near the border with Germany. It is the capital of the canton and the district of Grevenmacher...
on the Moselle is Luxembourg's only commercial port. With two quays covering a total length of 1.6 km, it offers facilities connecting river, road and rail transport. It is used principally for coal, steel, oil, agricultural goods and building materials.
Air
Luxembourg Airport at Findel, some 6 km to the north of the city, is Luxembourg's only commercial airport. Thanks to its long runway (4,000 m), even the largest types of plane are able to use its facilities.Luxair
Luxair S.A., Société Luxembourgeoise de Navigation Aérienne, operating as Luxair, is the flag carrier airline of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It operates scheduled services to 50 destinations in Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean and Middle East, plus charter and seasonal summer services....
, Luxembourg's international airline, and Cargolux
Cargolux
Cargolux Airlines International S.A., trading as Cargolux, is a cargo airline with its head office on the grounds of Luxembourg – Findel Airport in Sandweiler, Luxembourg. It is one of the largest scheduled all-cargo airlines in Europe with a global network...
, a cargo-only airline, operate out of the airport. In 2008, the airport ranked as Europe’s 5th largest and the world’s 23rd by cargo tonnage.
Luxair
Luxair
Luxair S.A., Société Luxembourgeoise de Navigation Aérienne, operating as Luxair, is the flag carrier airline of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It operates scheduled services to 50 destinations in Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean and Middle East, plus charter and seasonal summer services....
has regular passenger services to 20 European destinations and operates tourist flights to 17 more. Other airlines operating flights to and from Luxembourg include British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
, KLM, SAS
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
, Swiss European Air Lines
Swiss European Air Lines
Swiss European Air Lines is a subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines, operating as the latter on some of its short haul routes. Swiss International Air Lines, also known as SWISS, is the successor of Swissair, following that company's grounding in 2001. Like its parent, Swiss European is part...
, and TAP Portugal
TAP Portugal
TAP Portugal, commonly known as TAP, is the national airline of Portugal. It has its head office in Building 25 on the grounds of Portela Airport in Lisbon, and has been a member of the Star Alliance since 14 March 2005, the same day on which the company celebrated its 60th anniversary...
.
A large new airport terminal building was opened in 2008 with excellent facilities, including a huge underground carpark.
Pipelines
The trunk natural gas pipelines in Luxembourg have a total length of 155 km (2007).Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
are the main producers. The Luxembourg network is connected to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Merchant marine
From CIA World FactbookThe World Factbook
The World Factbook is a reference resource produced by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with almanac-style information about the countries of the world. The official paper copy version is available from the National Technical Information Service and the Government Printing Office...
:
Total:
45 ships
Ships by type:
bulk 6, cargo 3, chemical tanker 15, container 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 9
note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience
Flag of convenience
The term flag of convenience describes the business practice of registering a merchant ship in a sovereign state different from that of the ship's owners, and flying that state's civil ensign on the ship. Ships are registered under flags of convenience to reduce operating costs or avoid the...
: Belgium 7, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
1, France 17, Germany 5, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
2, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
8, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
4 (2008 est.)
Registered in other countries: Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
1
See also
- The Integrated Traffic and Landscape Concept for the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgThe Integrated Traffic and Landscape Concept for the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgThe integrated traffic and landscape concept is a spatial development plan which has been created in order to improve the spatial situation in terms of housing, economy, landscape and traffic in Luxembourg. It was introduced in the year 2004 and has a long term perspective with a horizon of 2020...
- Trams in LuxembourgTrams in LuxembourgTrams in Luxembourg started operation in 1875 when the first horse trams ran in Luxembourg City along a 10 km line. Electrification followed in 1908. The original track followed a route from the central station through the city centre to Limpertsberg. It was extended to various parts of the...