Taking the train to Luxembourg from the UK

There’s something I really like about arriving in Luxembourg by train. Once you’re over the border, the national railway is free, so your international ticket only has to cover the journey up to that point. The catch is that you need to understand exactly what’s paid and what isn’t, because that’s where almost everyone slips up.

From London, via Brussels or Paris

I found no through train from London in the official sources, but there are two sensible routes with one change. The first is Eurostar to Brussels and the direct train to Luxembourg, which CFL puts at a little under three hours. CFL will even sell you the whole thing, from London through to Luxembourg, as a single rail booking. The details are in Brussels to Luxembourg.

The second is Eurostar to Paris and then the TGV from the Gare de l’Est, the faster of the two final legs. It’s quicker on the final leg, but you have to cross Paris to reach the Gare de l’Est. That route is in Paris to Luxembourg.

Whichever you pick, leave a comfortable gap between Eurostar and the onward train. A late arrival at the first change is the one thing that can undo the day, and a longer connection costs you nothing but a coffee.

Other direct trains

visitluxembourg says Luxembourg is easy to reach by train from Germany, France and Belgium, and lists the direct French services. Strasbourg is the closest of them by rail, and Marseille the furthest, with the times in the table above. For Frankfurt, Trier or Metz I found no official journey time as text, because CFL’s international pages only work through its journey planner. What I could confirm for travelling from Germany is in Frankfurt to Luxembourg.

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Which part of the ticket is free?

Since 1 March 2020 buses, trams and trains in Luxembourg have been free for everyone, visitors included. On trains there are two limits, though. The first is class, since only second is free. The second is the border, because CFL says in so many words that free travel only runs to or from a border point. A ticket from Brussels or Paris is therefore paid.

Domestic first class has its own fares. A two-hour ticket for the whole network is €3 and a day ticket, valid until 04:00 the next day, is €6, with books of ten short tickets or five day tickets at €24. On a named ticket you may be asked for ID. And here’s the key warning. Buying a first-class or cross-border ticket from the conductor costs extra, and it’s cash only. Everything the free scheme covers is in Luxembourg free public transport.

Buying and collecting tickets

Book the international part early. CFL doesn’t publish its cross-border fares as text, so the only way to see the price is through its planner or the Belgian and French railway sites, and leaving it to the day rarely helps.

Domestic first-class tickets are sold from machines or the CFL go app. For international trips CFL has a separate app, CFL International. If you bought your TGV on the SNCF website, there are two machines at Luxembourg station for collecting the tickets.

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Arriving at the central station

Every one of these services terminates at the Gare Centrale. From there tram T1 takes you free to the old town or Kirchberg, and bus 29 goes to the airport. There’s a paid left-luggage service, which matters because the airport has none, according to its operator. The station itself is covered in Luxembourg railway station.

Passport and border checks on the way

Arriving by rail doesn’t change the paperwork. The Schengen passport rules apply as they would at any airport, and the new biometric registration happens wherever you first enter the area. Keep the passport on you during the trip too, since borders here are easy to cross without noticing. Keep it on you rather than in the hotel safe.

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Bringing a bike

CFL carries bikes on trains when there’s space and promotes routes that combine cycling and rail. The national cycle network runs to more than 600 km and is set to reach 950. Arrive at the capital by train and use the national network from there, which is free inside the country. For getting around once you’re there, see trains in Luxembourg. Coming via Brussels and keen to see Flanders too, there’s a ten-day route in my Belgium and Luxembourg itinerary.

Where the bus does not go, a car does: compare car hire in Luxembourg before you arrive rather than at the desk.

If you still need a way in, check the best ticket deals to Luxembourg from where you are.