Bus line 17 comes under the wing of the RGTR: transport reform in the south of Luxembourg

Transport and Public Works Minister Yuriko Backes has officially confirmed that bus line 17, formerly operated by inter-communal operator TICE, will be transferred to the state-owned RGTR network. The decision comes against the backdrop of a major reorganisation of public transport in the southern region of the country and was the subject of a parliamentary enquiry by MP Marc Goergen.

The initiative came from the burgomaster of Monnerich, who submitted a request on 5 December 2024. In February 2025, nine TICE member municipalities agreed to the transfer of the route. The main reason is the overloading of the TICE due to the planned expansion of the bus network by 2035. The new demands on frequency, infrastructure and maintenance would exceed both the financial and organisational capacity of the commune syndicate.

According to the Minister, the most important thing for passengers is not the name of the operator, but the quality of the service: frequency of flights, convenience of transfers and reliability. In Luxembourg, stops are usually not tied to a specific operator - they are shared.

The decision to integrate Line 17 into RGTR is part of a broader strategic plan that has three key objectives:

• Provide direct connections between the main agglomerations and work zones of the south with a maximum of one transfer.
• Give 95% of residents access to a bus at intervals of no more than 30 minutes.
• Guarantee a reliable, comfortable and sustainable transport infrastructure.

The reform is being developed in close co-operation between the state and inter-communal structures. It is emphasised that none of the partners should be overburdened with ambitious goals - sustainable development requires shared responsibility.