Ports, rail firms and logistics players collaborate to drive French rail freight

Speaking before a Senate committee last year on the state of rail freight in France, Matthieu Chabanel, the head of the country’s rail infrastructure manager, SNCF Réseau, called for greater cooperation between ports, rail companies, and other logistics players to drive the sector’s future development. Railfreight.com looks at some French ports engaged in collaborative projects to promote train-borne goods flows.

Port of Cherbourg

In the case of the Port of Cherbourg, collaboration with ro-ro ferry operator Brittany Ferries, has led to the impending launch of a ‘rolling highway’ linking the Normandy port to Bayonne-Mouguerre, near the border with Spain. The service has entailed the construction of two new, dedicated combined rail-road terminals. It will operate year-round and offer several weekly departures from Cherbourg and Bayonne-Mouguerre.