CFL Line 10

The railway line Luxembourg spa ( in the Luxembourg part referred to as Northern Line or Northern line ) is a railway line in Luxembourg and Belgium. Today it connects Luxembourg City on Ettelbrück, Troisvierges with the Belgian Trois Ponts. Previously they went on to Spa, this section except for a brief rest piece but shut down.

The Northern line is 76.78 km (Luxembourg Gare - Belgian border at Beesleck ) the longest continuous railway line of the Grand Duchy.

Operation and history

From 1858 to 1862 with the first single track Luxembourg - Ettelbrück ( - Diekirch ) was the southern part of the route as part of the Wilhelm- Luxembourg Railway. Was opened the subsection Luxembourg - Ettelbrück on July 21, 1862.

Preliminary to a range north to the Belgian border, there were already 1855. From Ettelbrück from them, however, should not first make the river valleys, but to Diekirch and then over the hills to Weiswampach. Only in 1860 the present route of Ettelbrück through the river valleys to Troisvierges and the Belgian border was set. This section was built in the years 1862-1866 (opening on 15 December 1866), also initially only single track. The second track was already provided, but it was not until 1910-1917 (opening March 15, 1917 ) realized. For the curves a minimum radius of 400 m was defined in the rule. The maximum slope is 1.5%. Due to the numerous Talschlingen 18 tunnels and 51 river bridges were needed.

The last part of Troisvierges to Spa in Belgium was handed over to the railway traffic on 20 February 1867. The section from the border to Spa in 1872 leased to the Belgian State Railways.

In addition, the distance from Troisvierges to St. Vith was taken in 1889 as part of the Vennbahn in operation, which until 1978 in operation. From St. Vith from the Vennbahn went on to Aachen. When in 1890 the railway line Rivage - Trois Ponts was opened, there was a shorter connection between Liege and Luxembourg. The section Trois Ponts- Spa then lost enormous importance.

From 1907 to 1917, the Luxembourg - section Ettelbrück was expanded to double track, from 1910 to 1917, the portion Ettelbrück - Troisvierges.

The Belgian State Railways acquired in 1924 the previously leased part in Belgium.

During the Second World War there was only during the Ardennes offensive between 16 December 1944, and February 1945 massive destruction of railroads, bridges, buildings and telegraph lines. As of March and April 1945, a reduced single-track operation was possible again. After the founding of the CFL in 1948, the final reconstruction took but until 1952.

As a result, there were always modernization, including the gradual conversion of the mechanical signal boxes on electrical signaling systems and the reduction of level crossings. These modernization on the one hand and massive staff cuts played safety, on the other hand an important role.

In the following years, first came an improvement in the schedule bid into force of section Luxembourg - Ettelbrück was electrified until June 9, 1988, followed by the sections Ettelbrück - Kautenbach (20 April 1991) and Kautenbach - Troisvierges (25 September 1993). A uniform electric traction to Belgium is possible since 27 May 2000 ( completion of electrification work on the Belgian side ).

Through the electrification numerous tunnel sections between Ettelbrück and Troisvierges are cost reasons been dismantled, a deficiency under which the path has to suffer to this day.

In this project, the last mechanical signaling and signal boxes were replaced. The total distance from Ettelbruck to the Belgian border has since been monitored by the signal box in Ettelbrück from.

A further loss of importance placed the setting of scheduled international freight transit traffic in 2004 dar. Since then operate on the Northern line from Ettelbrück only passenger trains.

Transport takes place on the track currently being held between Luxembourg and Troisvierges. In addition, regional express trains and regional trains of the relation Luxembourg - Diekirch use the northern route in the section Luxembourg - Ettelbrück, trains to use the route Wiltz in Luxembourg - section Ettelbrück - Kautenbach. Are used pull trains with electric locomotives of the 4000 series and double-deck coaches from Bombardier double-deck railcars of series 2200 ( Alstom Coradia duplex) or electric railcar BR 2000 De Dietrich Ferroviaire.

The total distance is traveled in long-distance trains InterRegio line m ( Liers - Liege - Luxembourg ) every two hours. For use usually comes while the Luxembourg 3000 series, more rarely, an identical NMBS / SNCB series 13, with four to five Belgian I10- Greater express wagon.

Route description

Starting point of the northern route is the Luxembourg train station, the route leads through the Ösling, a branch of the Ardennes. The crossed landscape with its narrow, deep valleys and numerous rivers, tributaries, and many bridges and tunnels make the northern route to one of the most charming low mountain railways in Europe.

In Ettelbrück branches of the route an electrified link from Diekirch, in Kautenbach branches a branch line from Wiltz ( also electrified ).

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