French intermodal sector sees a mediocre outlook for 2024
France’s intermodal transport players are rather lacking in optimism when it comes to the market outlook for next year after what has been a very challenging 2023. A snapshot survey by the industry body Groupement...Read more
Major rail union pushes for alternative plan to save Fret SNCF
Opposed to Fret SNCF’s “economic discontinuity,” the French railways’ major labour union, the CGT, is not giving up the fight to force the government and the EU to review the plans for the rail freight...Read more
French port of Dunkirk eyes rail freight traffic growth
Dunkirk, which claims to be France’s leading multi-modal port, is looking to increase its rail freight traffic through a programme of investment in dedicated facilities. Last year, the French port handled 9,5 million tonnes of...Read more
EC to ‘cover funding gap’ for new Brittany Ferries multimodal terminal
The European Commission (EC) allocated 19 million euros for the construction of a new multimodal terminal in Mouguerre, near Bayonne, in southwestern France. The terminal will be managed by Brittany Ferries and will be equipped...Read more
DB Cargo France to take on some of relinquished Fret SNCF traffic routes
The leading private rail company on the French market, DB Cargo France, will later this month be taking on some of the traffic routes relinquished by Fret SNCF. The Deutsche Bahn subsidiary is also in...Read more
Strike agenda: Chances are France will avoid impact during holidays
Strikes are the talk of the town, or better of the continent, again. France has been affected by them significantly during 2023. The country and its railway sector will probably avoid another major impact during...Read more
French and Spanish governments mull subsidies through Perthus Tunnel
The French and Spanish governments are said to be in discussions on proposals to subsidise tolls on freight trains operating through the Perthus Tunnel under the Pyrenees. The parties claim this should encourage a modal...Read more
Colas Rail enters French rail freight market with new subsidiary
Colas Rail, a rail company active in the United Kingdom, can now carry out traction and freight operations in France. This will be possible through its newest subsidiary, Colas Rail Traction, which recently obtain its...Read more
DFDS and VIIA strengthen intermodal partnership for Turkey-France-UK
French railway operator VIIA and Danish international shipping and logistics company DFDS will collaborate to create a sea-rail corridor connecting Turkey with the United Kingdom. Parts of these services were already active, but the new...Read more
France-Spain rail line re-opening back on track?
analysisThe re-opening of the cross-border rail section through the Pyrenees between Bedous in France and Canfranc in Spain and ultimately linking Pau with Zaragoza, remains in the spotlight. Recently, the European Commission renewed its support...Read more
How much will the disruptions in the Alps cost for rail freight operators?
Crossing the Alps by rail is currently as difficult as it must have been for Hannibal over 2,000 years ago. The closures, partial or total, of the Gotthard and Frejus axes are causing major disruptions...Read more
Modalis: ‘Locomotives scarce for operators taking over Fret SNCF’
INTERVIEWThe potential repercussions from the ‘economic discontinuity’ plan for Fret SNCF and the prospect of market recovery after what has been a forgettable 2023 are pressing topics in the French rail freight market. In an...Read more
CargoBeamer halts Perpignan-Neuss service: ‘France is a difficult market’
CargoBeamer suspended its service from Perpignan to Neuss in mid-September due to operational difficulties linked to various disruptions in France, including strikes and high energy prices. “It is not always an easy country to work...Read more
Frejus Railway to remain closed at least until the end of 2024
The Frejus Railway, the main rail border crossing between Italy and France, has been closed since 27 August after a disastrous landslide. According to Olivier Thevenet, vice president of the departmental council responsible for infrastructure,...Read more
Sharp decline in French intermodal freight in first half of 2023
FiguresAfter last year’s growth of 7,9 per cent in traffic per kilometre and 9,4 per cent in volume, the first half of the year saw a sharp downturn in French intermodal freight traffic, falling by...Read more
Will French rail cooperative Railcoop stay alive?
Railcoop, a French rail cooperative, has six months to find a way to remain afloat after closing its main freight service and failing to secure sufficient funds. The deadline is due to the fact that...Read more
Liberalised market in Italy: more players, stagnating volumes
The Italian private rail freight sector has kept growing since the early 2000s, despite the state-owned entity, Mercitalia Rail, still keeping the largest slice of the pie. All in all, the situation in Italy concerning...Read more
Port of Barcelona has new rail links with three French destinations
Toulouse, Bordeaux and Lyon in France will all be connected with the port of Barcelona in Spain via rail starting in early November. The new service initiated by Maersk will be an alternative to sea...Read more
‘Taking over Fret SNCF’s contracts is challenging for private operators’
The process of private operators taking over contracts and services given up by Fret SNCF as part of its economic rehabilitation is not all laughs and smiles. It is a challenging situation where companies are...Read more