Luxembourg to Metz, Nancy and Strasbourg: trains, buses and free border stops
Lorraine starts ten minutes south of Luxembourg, and tens of thousands of people commute across that border every day. Here is how to get to Thionville, Metz, Nancy and Strasbourg by train and bus — and which French stations you can reach for free.
Updated · 3 min read
Metz and Nancy by TER
Regional TER Grand Est trains run from Luxembourg through Thionville to Metz and Nancy throughout the day, full of commuters at rush hour. TER tickets have fixed prices and need no reservation: buy them on SNCF Connect, at the SNCF machines in Luxembourg station, or at the counter, and get on any train.
Fiert dëse Bus op Metz?
Literally: Does this bus go to Metz?
Fiert dëse Bus op Diddenuewen?
Literally: Does this bus go to Thionville?
Meaning: Diddenuewen is the Luxembourgish name of Thionville.
Free to the border: second-class train trips to Audun-le-Tiche and Volmerange-les-Mines in France (and Athus in Belgium) are free — an exception to the rule that free travel stops at the border.
Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse
Trains link Luxembourg with Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse every two to three hours. A few are direct — a TGV Duplex leaves around 07:13 and 11:15 — the rest are TER trains with one or two changes, usually at Metz. TGVs need a reservation and have fares that rise as they fill; TERs are fixed-price and walk-on.
Zënter 2007 fiert den TGV vu Lëtzebuerg op Stroossbuerg
Literally: Since 2007 the TGV has run from Luxembourg to Strasbourg.
D’Europäescht Parlament huet säi Sëtz zu Stroossbuerg
Literally: The European Parliament has its seat in Strasbourg.
Cross-border buses to Lorraine
RGTR buses link Luxembourg with Thionville, Yutz, Cattenom, Hayange, Ottange, Villerupt, Briey, Longwy and the P+R at Metzange and Roussy-le-Village. They are free inside Luxembourg; the French part needs a RegioZone ticket (€3 for two hours, €40 a month) in the CFL go app. Commuters will find passes and tips in Commuting to Luxembourg from France, Belgium or Germany.
By car
The A31 motorway links Luxembourg with Thionville, Metz and Nancy and is busy at rush hour in both directions. Driving rules, tolls and low-emission zones (Strasbourg has one) are in Driving in and to Luxembourg.
Wéinst engem Stau op der Autobunn hat ech gëschter schonn nees Verspéidung
Literally: Because of a traffic jam on the motorway I was late again yesterday.
Luxembourgish for the trip
A few sentences from the official dictionary, each with its native recording — the kind you will use on the platform and on the bus. More in Luxembourgish on the bus and the train.
Ech kommen aus Frankräich
Literally: I come from France.
Ass dës Plaz nach fräi?
Literally: Is this seat still free?
Ech hu mer e Billjee kaaft, fir mam Zuch op Léck ze fueren
Literally: I bought a ticket to go to Liège by train.
Meaning: Billjee (ticket) comes from French billet. The verb is kafen — kaaft is its past participle.
Also useful on the road, each with native audio: good morning, good evening, yes and no, nice to meet you — and the words for food, times and dates, the weather and money.
The verbs you need on any journey: fueren (to go by vehicle), huelen (to take), ukommen (to arrive), waarden (to wait), bezuelen (to pay) and reesen (to travel).
Lorraine is French-speaking, and many of its residents work in Luxembourg in French. For French speakers learning Luxembourgish: apprendre le luxembourgeois quand on parle français, ressources gratuites, le vocabulaire and le test de niveau.
Moving to Luxembourg, or crossing its borders every week? The country runs on Luxembourgish, French and German, and a little of each goes a long way. On Edluxio you can book 1-to-1 online lessons with independent teachers — native speakers for languages, and professionals from many fields — and practise the conversations you will actually have. Book a trial lesson; if your first lesson isn’t right for you, you get a full refund.
The sentences you need when you travel
16Word’s Travel track has 100 real situations — the train, the taxi, the hotel, the pharmacy — with 16 sentences each, in Luxembourgish, French, German, Portuguese and many more. The first situation is free.
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- All free Luxembourgish resources
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from Luxembourg to Metz?
Yes — regional TER trains run from Luxembourg via Thionville to Metz and Nancy throughout the day.
Do I need to book the TER?
No. TER tickets are fixed-price and valid without a reservation; buy them before you board.
Is there a direct train from Luxembourg to Strasbourg?
A few — TGVs around 07:13 and 11:15. Other trains need one or two changes, usually at Metz.
Which French stations can I reach for free?
Audun-le-Tiche and Volmerange-les-Mines, in 2nd class — plus Athus in Belgium.
What is the Luxembourgish name for Thionville?
Diddenuewen.
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