Red means death: how the CFL and the Luxembourg police are reminded of the risks of railway crossings

On Thursday 5 June 2025, a joint action by Luxembourg Railways (CFL) and the police took place in Lintgen as part of International Level Crossing Safety Awareness Day (ILCAD). From 7am to 9am, officers reminded drivers and pedestrians: a railway crossing is no place to compromise.

There are still 105 crossings in Luxembourg, and each one requires strict adherence to the rules:

• Stop at the first sign of a flashing red light or audible alarm.
• Never pull out onto the tracks in traffic - even if the barrier is open.
• If you are stuck on the tracks - break the barrier, special weakening zones are provided by the design.
• If you see a stranded vehicle, call 112 immediately and report the crossing number listed nearby.
• Remember: the braking distance of a train can be up to 1,200 metres - emergency braking often fails to save the day.

In the last 10 years - 5 deaths and 14 serious incidents. Almost all tragedies were due to traffic offences. But even more alarming are the figures concerning pedestrians ignoring the ban on crossing paths:

• In 2024, CFL staff documented 800 incidents of illegally crossing or being near the rails.
• 2 out of 3 deaths on the railways in Europe are caused by people on the tracks, the European Railways Agency says.

The rules apply not only to crossings, but also to stations. It is forbidden to cross the tracks, even if your train is on another platform. Instead, use a subway. As CFL specialists emphasise: "Even if you are late, your life is more important than the timetable".