To liberalise or not: is rail freight under attack?
Market liberalisation has been a crucial component of rail freight growth in Europe. Since markets, like the German, started opening up to private initiatives less than fifteen years ago, rail cargo transport went into a...Read more
Analysis: will DB Cargo end up like SNCF Fret?
This week, an important European rail freight company was saved from possible sanctions by the European Commission through an uncompromising reorganisation plan. SNCF Fret, the French subsidiary of SNCF was under fire because it had...Read more
OTIV deploys new system for safer shunting operations
OTIV, a Belgian company specialised in developing systems for rail transportation deployed a new system that will take out human labour from potentially dangerous situations at shunting yards. It will be deployed at the rail...Read more
SNCF launches Rail Route Connect for massive road-to-rail shift
Seven companies with logistics sites across France joined forces with Fret SNCF to form the first national network to promote a massive shift of rail: Rail Route Connect (2RC). The association’s main objective is to...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 more
Can SNCF back the growth of its subsidiaries?
The relative financial stability that the SNCF Group experiences after years brings a positive message to the French rail freight and logistics market. Nevertheless, the revenue growth noticed in 2021 and the first half of...Read moreFrench government calls for ‘energy sobriety’ from SNCF not fewer trains
While the French government has called on SNCF to make energy savings in response to the current crisis, it has not requested that the state railway utility prepare to run fewer trains this winter in...Read more
SNCF Fret goes digital with Everysens collaboration
Arkema, SNCF Fret, and Everysens launched a tripartite project aimed at improving rail freight traffic performance through data comparison. The project aims at providing real-time updates on estimated time of arrivals (ETA) and identifying immobilisation...Read more
Open Modal unveils plans for intermodal terminal near Marseille
France’s Groupe Open Modal has unveiled plans to build a state-of-the-art intermodal terminal for swap bodies and containers in Miramas, on the outskirts of Marseille. The investment in the project is estimated at over 30...Read more
SNCF to acquire Takargo, Portugal’s leading private rail freight operator
Groupe SNCF has announced plans to acquire Takargo, Portugal’s leading private rail freight operator and a subsidiary of Portuguese construction group Mota-Engil.Read moreSNCF back in the black: who would have thought?
The loss-making rail freight subsidiary SNCF Fret was in the black for the first time last year. This was announced during a recent press conference where the French state railways SNCF presented its annual results.Read more
Xi’an-Valenton Silk Road link becomes weekly
The New Silk Road connection between Xi’an in China and the Valenton terminal in Paris, France, will become frequent and stable. From February 2022, the service will run with one train per week “to alleviate...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
Support for rail industry proving complicated and divisive
Germany, Britain and France are all finding support for their rail industries to be a complex matter. Competing interests have survived the coronavirus pandemic, and pleasing everyone is proving a headache for administrations across Europe.Read more
French rail freight should double before end of decade
Ambitious plans have been revealed to raise awareness and patronage of the French freight network. The target is to double usage before the end of the decade. A consortium of operators have agreed collaborative terms.Read more
New rail link to increase cargo traffic between Normandie and Paris
Upgrade works are carried out at the railway track between Serqueux-Gisors in the French region of Normandie. In October 2020 the project should be completed with a brand new station at Serqueix. The upgrade is...Read moreSNCF will not replace retired workers
Fret SNCF, the cargo division of the French national railway company will not recover the positions of 700 retired employees from 2018 to 2021, several media reported. These positions represent 14 per cent of its...Read more