Major Train Service Disruption in Luxembourg: Bettembourg to Luxembourg City Closed, Replacement Buses, Alternative Routes and More: Here’s the details

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Due to ongoing construction on the Luxembourg-Bettembourg rail line, train services between Bettembourg and Luxembourg City will be temporarily suspended beginning in mid-July and lasting until mid-September. One of the nation’s busiest rail corridors is being disrupted as part of a larger upgrade project that aims to modernize the tracks so that international trains can travel through Berchem parallel to the existing tracks. Additionally, a new second platform will be built at Howald Station.

Cross-border workers and daily commuters from the south will be impacted by the closure of these important train lines, forcing them to find alternate routes during the summer. Major routes like Line 60 (Luxembourg–Esch-sur-Alzette–Rodange) and Line 90 (Luxembourg–Thionville–Metz) will be suspended from Friday evening, July 11 through Sunday, September 14. This disruption is significant.

Alternative Transportation: Replacement Bus Services

The national rail operator of Luxembourg, CFL, is addressing this inconvenience by offering replacement bus services, designated L60 and L90, which will operate regularly during rush hours. During peak hours, the buses will run between Bettembourg and Luxembourg City (Central Station) every five minutes. Before passengers can board their regular trains to places like Esch-sur-Alzette, Rodange, or France, the buses will also stop at Gasperich (Hildegard von Bingen).

Despite the regular bus schedules, travelers should anticipate longer travel times because the trip will take approximately 25 to 45 minutes longer than a typical train ride. The buses will make use of a designated lane for carpooling and public transportation on the A3 motorway. The A3 will be avoided on the opposite route (Bettembourg to Luxembourg City), though, to avoid traffic jams or accidents that might stop the replacement service altogether.

Additional Bus Options and Routes

For those who need to travel further afield or to different locations, additional buses will also be available:

• To guarantee continuous access to this crucial route, direct bus services will run between Luxembourg City and Esch-sur-Alzette.
• Additionally, replacement buses will operate from important locations such as Bonnevoie Rocade, Luxexpo, Luxembourg Rocade, and Limpertsberg.
• Passengers on high-speed trains passing through Bettembourg and continuing on to Thionville will be served exclusively by a dedicated “TGV Luxembourg” bus.

These additional buses will help passengers reach destinations unaffected by the Bettembourg closure and ensure that connectivity remains intact.

Other Summer Disruptions

Beyond the closure of Bettembourg, the Luxembourg railway network will experience additional disruptions:

Train service between Luxembourg and Ettelbruck/Diekirch will be interrupted from Saturday, July 19, to Sunday, August 10. There will be replacement buses operating from Luxexpo, Luxembourg Rocade, and Limpertsberg.

Luxembourg–Wasserbillig–Trier: From Saturday, August 23 to Sunday, September 14, the train service at Luxembourg Rocade will be replaced by buses on this route.

Passengers traveling on these routes will need to rely on the replacement buses to maintain their travel schedules. As these disruptions are scheduled during the summer months, travelers should plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.

Travel Tips and Recommendations

• Keep Up to Date: For the most recent information on train schedules, alternate routes, and replacement bus services, be sure to visit CFL’s website or download the CFL App.
• Plan Ahead: Because replacement buses require longer travel times, it’s a good idea to factor in extra time for your trip, particularly during rush hour.
• Check for Traffic Disruptions: If you’re taking a bus, be aware that there may be delays because of traffic, especially on busy routes or in the event of an accident. Monitoring real-time traffic updates is the best course of action.
• Examine Other Train Routes: If the replacement services don’t fit into your schedule, consider other train routes that might pass through different stations or offer different connections.

Conclusion

Many commuters and travelers who depend on these routes will be impacted by the temporary closure of the Luxembourg–Bettembourg rail line during the summer. Nonetheless, passengers will still be able to get to their destinations thanks to CFL’s replacement bus services, which operate regularly during rush hours. Although travelers should expect longer travel times, these steps are required for the continuous infrastructure improvements that will eventually increase the effectiveness of travel. As usual, the secret to successfully managing these disruptions will be to remain informed and make advance plans.