The commercial port of Marseille Fos is betting on the renewal of its railway infrastructure to decisively shift towards this alternative mode of transport, moving away from an all-road approach. The turning point is marked by the reactivation of a railway line closed for thirty years, which will become a new access point to the port. Meanwhile, the historic freight station in the Le Canet district will be decommissioned in June 2024, as this area is slated for a different urban development.
The railway reorganization plan proposed by SNCF Réseau received the green light following a public inquiry, despite some concerns regarding the noise impact on certain neighborhoods. The project is estimated to cost just under 60 million euros, co-financed by the European Union, the French state, regional authorities, and the Port of Marseille.
Within two years, the railway line at the Mourepiane junction, closed for three decades, will be reopened and upgraded. This line will provide a connection between the SNCF network and the port's maritime services, allowing the transit of long European standard freight trains directly to the Med-Europe Terminal freight yard. The nearby Miramas railway junction will also be involved as a hub for freight trains heading to and from Marseille terminals. Construction is expected to start by the end of 2024, with all works completed by 2026. In the interim, with the closure of the Le Canet yard, a compromise must be found as freight and passenger trains will share the tracks at the Arenc station.
To mitigate the impact, an agreement has been reached to avoid using diesel locomotives when passing through Marseille's neighborhoods, opting instead for electric vehicles even for maneuvering. The port of Marseille is no stranger to innovative solutions. In 2023, during the renewal and upgrading of the port's railway network, a patented system was adopted without using traditional ballast. The tracks were laid on innovative prefabricated concrete slabs, which, according to the manufacturer Systra, are produced with a low-carbon process, require minimal maintenance, and have interchangeable components.
Railway innovation is at the heart of the port's modal shift strategy. The number of containers transported by rail has increased by 200% in ten years, reaching 230,000. The Marseille Fos port welcomes nearly 10,000 ships each year and handles 80 million tons of goods.
Piermario Curti Sacchi
