The financial and organizational restructuring of Fret Sncf, the freight transport arm of the French state railway company, has created opportunities for other operators, as expected and previously announced. Leading the charge are the German railways, through both DB Cargo France, which operates in the French market, and its parent company, Deutsche Bahn.
In early 2025, DB Cargo France will introduce two new combined transport services. One will operate entirely within France, breaking the long-held monopoly of the French railways. The other will utilize the promising freight corridor to the United Kingdom via the Channel Tunnel.
The first service, considered short-haul, will cover just over 300 kilometers, linking Metz and Nancy in Eastern France with Valenton, a major freight hub south of Paris. Valenton is home to several intermodal transport companies, such as Novatrans, Hupac, and T3M. The service will run five times per week, focusing on the transport of swap bodies. According to French media, DB Cargo France expects to break even after its first year, despite adopting a competitive pricing strategy aimed at aligning rail transport costs with those of road freight.
Also starting in early 2025, DB Cargo France will launch a new intermodal service connecting Paris-Valenton with Daventry in Northamptonshire, located about 60 kilometers southeast of Birmingham. The unique aspect of this service is the use of a powerful diesel locomotive in France, which will facilitate operations at the Calais terminal. In light of these new services, DB Cargo France plans to significantly strengthen its electric locomotive fleet. By the end of 2024, intermodal transport is projected to account for 40% of its activity, up from 27% in 2023.
DB Cargo France is also eagerly anticipating 2025 due to the expected reopening of the Frejus rail link between France and Italy in the year's first months. Despite skepticism from some who view this mountain route as outdated and uncompetitive, the German railways disagree and could operate more than 30 trains per week. According to statements gathered by the specialized agency RailFreight, the closure of the cross-border line between Lyon and Turin is causing a loss of €1 million per month in missed transport opportunities.
Piermario Curti Sacchi
