Fret SNCF forced to give up several routes to endorse fair competition
Fret SNCF, the rail freight subsidiary of state-owned French railway company SNCF, sustained another blow that makes its economic and operational future challenging, to say the least. The company will have to give up operations...Read more
National railway strike in France is on…again
Workers of the French state railway utility SNCF are on strike. The strike started on Monday 30 January at 7 pm local time and runs until Wednesday, 1 February 6 am. It is expected to...Read more
France responds to European Commission probe into Fret SNCF state aid
France is ready for the formal examination procedure by the European Commission into the conditions of the financing of SNCF’s rail freight unit, Fret SNCF, dating back several years before its transformation into a subsidiary...Read more
Fret SNCF under EU’s microscope for state aid rules compliance
The rail freight subsidiary of SNCF, Fret SNCF, is subject to investigation by the European Commission. The investigation’s objective is to determine whether financial measures taken in favour of the rail freight company between 2007-2019...Read moreFrench intermodal freight operator appeals to state on energy price hike
Brittany-based Lahaye Global Logistics, one of the pioneers of combined road-rail transport development in France, has called on the state authorities to intervene to limit the impact of rising energy prices in the rail freight...Read moreCommission injects nearly half a billion into French single wagonload transport
Another incentive is added for rail companies in France and a booster for the French national rail freight development plan. Last week, the European Commission approved a 450 million euros state aid scheme to support...Read moreFrance aims for better rail capacity management following disputes
France is rethinking the processes of train capacity allocation in its railway network. After some disputes between rail operators and the infrastructure manager SNCF Réseau, the Transport Regulatory Authority of France (ART) opened a consultation...Read moreSNCF develops DACE: a system for ‘the intelligent detection of train anomalies’
SNCF’s rail network manager, SNCF Réseau and Rail Logistics Europe, an entity grouping its rail freight units, have developed a system for “the intelligent detection of train anomalies.”Read more
France’s Captrain to develop hydrogen-powered locomotives
SNCF subsidiary Captrain France has announced a partnership agreement with Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) to develop hydrogen-powered locomotives to provide a decarbonisation solution for French and European rail freight.Read more
Rail Cargo Group launches train to Spain and increases Benelux links
April is a pretty productive month for Austria based Rail Cargo Group. With a new link in the pipeline between Barcelona in Spain and St. Valentin/Schwertberg, Austria, and increased weekly connections between Linz, Austria and...Read moreSNCF Réseau modernises signalling in Paris-Lyon line
French railway manager SNCF Réseau is carrying out signalling modernisation work on the Paris-Lyon line between Fain-lès-Montbard and Nuits-sous-Ravières. The works, which started at the beginning of the year, will be completed by the end...Read more
SNCF Réseau and French Senate collide over rail freight recovery plan
The French infrastructure manager SNCF Réseau and the French Senate (upper house of the French parliament) are in an open conflict regarding the realisation of the national rail freight recovery plan. SNCF Réseau’s CEO underlined...Read more
French rail cooperative launches first regional service
A new concept entered the rail freight market in France. Railcoop, a rail cooperative currently counting more than 9,000 members, just launched its first rail freight service linking the Aveyron and Lot regions with the...Read more
France draws national plan to develop rail freight
The French state wants to reverse rail’s lost market share during the coming years. For this purpose, it developed an action plan with specific goals: doubling rail freight’s modal share by 2030 ( from 9...Read moreRungis-Perpignan route in France reopens in October
The Rungis-Perpignan freight line connecting the Paris metropolitan area with southeastern France will reopen after two years of inactivity. The route will facilitate the intermodal transport of fresh produce between the two regions and will...Read more
How sensible are rail strikes?
ANALYSIS – What is the impact of strikes on rail freight? How long can the industry feel the consequences, and does it really make sense for train drivers to go on a strike?Read more