Bettel inspects Kirchberg funicular and tram preparations

The Kirchberg district of Luxembourg City is currently a bit of the building site, but as the countdown begins this should soon clear ready for first section of the tram to open to the public, as well as the funicular linking Pfaffenthal to Kirchberg. The work is intensifying and the excitement increasing.

With that in mind, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel paid a visit the funicular station to inspect the current testing phase of the carriages, before moving on to the Luxtram headquarters at the other end of the plateau near Luxexpo.

 Up to 7.200 passengers per hour

The funicular is a key element of the inter-modal concept connecting the rail network, tram, buses, and other modes of transport. From December 10 passengers will be able to move easily between the Pfaffenthal station in the valley under the red bridge, and Kirchberg above.

The funicular station is nearing completion and the impressive cabins, 17 tonnes each, are in their testing phase. They can be seen climbing and descending the 200m of slope in exactly 63 seconds, initially ensuring the connection between train line 10 (Luxembourg-Troisvierges) and the Kirchberg plateau, with other lines following suit at later dates.

The funicular has two totally independent side-by-side lines. The 4 cabins can carry up to 7,200 people per hour during peak periods, or 1,200 passengers in just 10 minutes, and are each designed to transport up to 168 passengers.

"I am impatient"

For the Prime Minister, December 10, 2017 will mark a significant step. "For users coming from Ettelbruck travelling to Kirchberg, the commissioning of the funicular represents an incredible time saving, not having to go to the central station, then take a bus, etc. Their journey time will be almost halved,” exclaimed Bettel, "I am impatient".

Next stop,  "Neien Tramsschapp"

The new tram maintenance centre at the other end of the Kirchberg plateau is almost ready. Only a few final touches remain.

"All equipment is currently being tested," stated André von der Mark, managing director of Luxtram.

The Neien Tramsschapp, or tram depot, is divided into three sections, the storage area, the workshops and the administrative centre, along rue de  Grünewald.

Open doors weekend

For those interested in seeing just what goes on at the impressive tram depot and take a peek behind the scenes, an open weekend is planned on  September 23 and 24. This is an ideal opportunity to get closer to the trams and carriages, and understand how everything works.

(Adam Walder, adam.walder@wort.lu, +352 4993 9721)