Luxembourg's national railway company, the CFL, has announced upcoming rail traffic disruptions between France and Luxembourg due to a staff shortage.
The CFL explained that, faced with a "particularly competitive job market" and despite "sustained recruitment efforts", the hiring of certain profiles represents "a real challenge". The CFL added that, like other companies, it is currently facing a "tense" situation in terms of staffing due to many illness-related absences paired with "long-planned and granted leave".
In this context, the CFL has decided to reduce rail traffic on sections between Audun-leTiche (France) and Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg) and between Volmerange-les-Mines (France) and Bettembourg (Luxembourg) during the Carnival holiday period, from Monday 12 to Friday 16 February 2024 inclusive.
During this period, there will be no trains between Audun-le-Tiche and Esch-sur-Alzette; the CFL will set up a replacement bus. Moreover, there will be fewer trains running between Volmerange-les-Mines and Bettembourg: one train out of two will continue to run on this section. The CFL assured that trains would offer a "sufficient" number of seats.
The CFL described these measures as "necessary" in view of the safety, support and information missions entrusted to train attendants on Luxembourg's railway network. The company added that it had continued to strengthen its recruitment efforts to enable drivers and train attendants to be able to take their leave. At the end of 2023, the CFL recruited 25 train attendants. In May 2024, about 20 additional train conductors will serve passengers at the end of their training programme, followed by another 20 or so train conductors who will join their colleagues during the fourth quarter of the year. Currently, the CFL employs more than 260 train attendants.
