2 New Underpasses Replace Milbech Level Crossing

On Thursday 2 July 2026, Luxembourg's Ministry of Mobility and Public Works and the National Railway Company of Luxembourg (CFL) inaugurated two new underpasses in Milbech (Municipality of Contern), replacing level crossing PN59 on the Luxembourg–Wasserbillig–Trier railway line.

According to the authorities, the project is intended to improve both road and rail safety while enhancing traffic flow for local residents and other users. Level crossing PN59, located at the intersection of the road leading to the Ledenbierg residential area and the railway line, has now been permanently replaced by two grade-separated crossings.

The main underpass, connecting the Ledenbierg residential area with Rue du Chemin de Fer, has been open since 23 March 2026 and is accessible to motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and people with reduced mobility. A second pedestrian underpass has now been opened near the former level crossing, providing residents with easier access to nearby bus stops.

"The safest level crossing is one that has been removed. Thanks to the new underpasses, safety has been improved and traffic flow has been optimised for the local population. A level crossing in the centre of a locality no longer meets today's safety requirements. By replacing it with suitable infrastructure such as tunnels or bridges, we eliminate both waiting times and danger, while helping to improve the quality of life of local residents," said Luxembourg's Minister for Mobility and Public Works, Yuriko Backes, who also highlighted the quality of the cooperation between the parties involved in improving road and railway safety.

"With 55 incidents recorded at level crossings in Luxembourg in 2025, it is essential to continue our efforts to ensure that every level crossing removal represents a step forward in safety for our customers, our staff and all road users," said Jean-Paul Lickes, Chairman of the CFL Board of Directors. "By reducing these risk factors, we help prevent situations that often have serious human consequences."

"In 2025, incidents at level crossings resulted in 4,371 minutes of delays and 67 train cancellations. These figures demonstrate the relevance of our level crossing removal programme in improving the quality of service we provide to our customers," explained Marc Wengler, Director General of CFL. "By advancing several projects in parallel, we are becoming more efficient, as demonstrated this year by the removals at Milbech and Colmar-Usines (PN118a)."

The authorities recalled that level crossings remain locations where railway and road traffic intersect and continue to be the scene of accidents, often due to road users failing to comply with traffic regulations. Between 2015 and 2025, seven people lost their lives at level crossings in Luxembourg.

To improve both safety and mobility, CFL has continued removing level crossings each year. Since 2012, 42 level crossings have been eliminated and replaced with alternative crossing solutions in cooperation with the Roads Administration and the relevant municipal authorities. Each project is designed according to the specific characteristics of the location and local mobility needs.

Following the removal of PN59, 81 level crossings remain in operation on Luxembourg's railway network used by both passenger and freight trains.

The authorities added that the programme to replace level crossings with safer infrastructure forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance railway safety, improve transport reliability and facilitate mobility across the country.