Free transport has not dampened the appetite for first class. CFL sold 38,252 single tickets in 2025, compared with 25,538 in 2020 – a rise of 49.8% over five years. In the first six months of 2026, 21,233 tickets have already been sold, according to the response from the minister for Mobility and Public Works, Yuriko Backes (DP), published on Friday 14 August, in response to a parliamentary question from the MP David Wagner (déi Lénk)

Subscription figures are following a different trend. Between 2020 and 2025, monthly subscriptions rose from 2,032 to 2,288, whilst annual subscriptions fell from 328 to 263. The government points out, however, that the health crisis skews the comparison with 2020 and 2021, and believes that the rise in remote working has encouraged the purchase of single-journey tickets at the expense of season tickets.

This increase comes at a time when public transport has been free since March 2020, with the exception of first-class train travel. Since January 2026, an annual travel card has cost €500, a monthly travelcard €60 and a single ticket between €3 and €6. First class generated €485,276 in revenue in 2025, following a peak of €520,442 in 2024. In the first six months of 2026, revenue has already reached €287,219, of which €121,059 came from single-journey tickets alone.

Under-enrolled first class

However, the rise in sales contrasts with passenger numbers. During peak hours, the first-class occupancy rate does not exceed 16.1% on the five routes surveyed and falls as low as 10.6%. In second class, occupancy rates reach as high as 74.6% on these routes. On the Luxembourg–Thionville–Metz line, second-class occupancy even rises to 96% between Bettembourg and the border.

A total of 4,105 seats are currently allocated to first class, representing 13% of the fleet’s total seating capacity. Converting all of these seats would, in theory, allow the same number of seats to be added to second class. However, this option was not specifically analysed during the 2026 fare review. In the event of overcrowding, CFL gives priority to the temporary downgrading of first-class seats, at the discretion of the on-board crew.

In fact, there are no plans to discontinue the service. “No changes are planned,” says Yuriko Backes. With the launch of all the Coradia railcars ordered, first-class seating is even set to increase from 4,105 to 4,853 seats. The CFL’s total capacity will rise from 31,507 to 37,329 seats, an increase of 18.5%.