Green light for two tram extensions by 2021

The Luxembourg government on Friday gave the green light to extend the tram route to the north and south of the capital, which will cost €214 million.

"In four years the tram will run on a 16.4km route from Findel airport to the new stadium in Cloche d'Or," announced Minister of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure François Bausch. Consequently, "2,000 buses will travel less every day in the capital." 

The tram will be officially put into service on December 10 in a short stretch that will initially take users from the Luxexpo to the Red Bridge.

From December 10, the electric tram will serve eight stations, exclusively in Kirchberg. Eventually in 2020 - the exact date has not yet been set - the tram will pass through the first stretch of 7.6 km between Luxexpo and the central train station.

Bausch said that this main section will be opened "in stages" in the coming months so that "before the summer of 2018", the line can reach the "Stäreplaz" (Place de l'Etoile) and "at the end of 2019, arrive to the Place de Paris ".

Ministers meeting in the council have confirmed that the route will be extended by 8.8 km by the end of 2021.

The route will be extended to the north by 3.9 km between Luxexpo and Findel.

This route will pass around the Trier motorway (A1) and will serve two stations: the future connecting point Héienhaff, with a giant Park & Ride of 4,000 spaces, and Findel airport.

This section will cost €99.1 million including to lay the rails, create a bridge over the A1, build the two new stations and an underground tram service under the roads that lead to Findel and buy five new trains.

To the south, the route will be extended 4.9 km between the central station and the future National Football Stadium on the Arlon motorway (A6) at Cloche d'Or. 

On this route seven stations will serve Bonnevoie, Howald, Ban de Gasperich and Cloche d'Or, with three exchange centres located on the Lycée Bonnevoie, Howald (behind the Cactus) and the Cloche d'Or. The €114.9 million allocated includes the purchase of seven new trains.

(By Wort staff)