CFL Multimodal formally announced the north-south logistics line on Monday, at the heart of which is the Bettembourg-Dudelange multimodal terminal.

The new logistics network stretches from Britanniadock in Zeebrugge in Belgium to the Champigneules terminal in Nancy.

The rail connection is currently served by three weekly round trips, which is expected to rise to five by the end of the year.

The line is specialised in transporting lorry trailers and containers measuring 20 to 45 metres, and getting them from one end to the other within 24 hours.

Presented by CFL Multimodal as an "extension of the combined trains network", the line should allow Luxembourg to increase its attractiveness as the goods passing through this axis can be transported to other destinations already served by the operators in Spain, Italy, Turkey, the UK or the Scandinavian countries, for example.

The line is expected to sway in Luxembourg’s favour in its bid to finalise a direct rail connection to China. This ambitious project would enable China to transport its goods more easily to the European market. The main drawback is finding goods for the trains to transport in the other direction.