A sustainable revival for Luxembourg’s railways

Essential works to ensure passengers’ comfort and safety

After 25 years of service, Line 6a is in need of a revamp. From 28 March to 10 April 2026, teams from ETF Luxembourg and GCF will be working on the renewal of 7.9 kilometres of track, including the replacement of rails, sleepers and ballast. To complete this project within the allocated timeframe, our teams and their partner will use a track renewal train and a ballast cleaning machine. The aim of the works is to ensure the safety and comfort of the 31 million passengers who use the Luxembourg network each year.

A bold choice: introducing a carbon-free rail system to reduce the carbon footprint

The rails supplied for this project come from the factories of Saarstah Rail, a subsidiary of the Saarstahl Group, which is currently the only supplier of carbon-neutral rails offering this service in France and Europe. They are made from scrap metal or obsolete rails that will be recycled by being melted down in electric furnaces. Unlike blast furnaces, the use of electric furnaces thus eliminates 70% of the CO₂ emissions associated with manufacturing.

During this 15-day project, nearly 1,000 tonnes of carbon-free rails will be laid, representing a reduction of 1,900 tonnes of CO₂. To put this reduction into perspective, we are saving the equivalent of the emissions from 1,300 cars or the annual electricity consumption of 350 households.

This project is fully in line with ETF’s commitments to combat global warming by limiting its CO₂ emissions. Furthermore, we are proud to contribute to the modernisation of the Luxembourg network, ensuring sustainable, safe and comfortable mobility for everyone in the region for many years to come.