Luxembourg, 17/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB), in partnership with Banque et Caisse d'Epargne d'Etat du Luxembourg (BCEE) announces a EUR 180 million loan to Société nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL) for capital projects to upgrade its rail facilities. The loan will help fund the purchase of 85 double-decker passenger cars and 20 locomotives to replace old rolling stock and the installation of safety and maintenance facilities at Luxembourg City station. The project will create around 40% additional rail capacity, sufficient to accommodate the forecast growth in the number of cross-border commuters to Luxembourg, currently estimated at more than 100 000 a day. The project will contribute to greater integration of the region comprising the Saarland, Lorraine, Luxembourg, the Rhineland-Palatinate and Wallonia, and especially the neighbouring towns and cities of Arlon, Trier and Metz-Thionville.