In 1964 the river Moselle was canalized. That means that by means of dams and locks the water height in the river could be regulated. As a consequence of that, ships with a greater tonnage could sail over the river. In the years 1964-1966 a new port with an area of 65 ha was established nearby the village of Mertert. And ofcourse a railway link was made to that port.
Just some years before (in 1954) the local railway from Wasserbillig to Grevenmacher was closed. This trace could be used partly to make a new, now electrified, railway branche from the station of Wasserbillig to the new port in Mertert.
The port is owned by the state of Luxemburg. Railway tracks on the port terrain are maintained by the CFL at cost of the state. In the beginning there were two firms that do the exploitation of the port, Portlux (owned by the state of Luxemburg and the state of Germany) and ManuLux (owned by the state of Luxemburg and the state of France). Both firm have been amalgated into one firm Luxport in 2007.
The PortLux is the owner of several small shunting locs. One is a former loc V20 of the German railways.
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