PARTIAL PRIVATISATION

SNCF and CMA CGM CEOs meet to discuss Rail Logistics Europe sale

Published on 2026-04-02 at 10:19

CMA CGM headquarters. Image: Shutterstock © olrat — Image: Shutterstock © olrat

Rail Logistics Europe (RLE), which groups the rail freight subsidiaries of the SNCF Group, will be (partly) privatised. After days of rumours, interest from CMA CGM was confirmed by a meeting between the head of the two companies, Jean Castex and Rodolphe Saadé.

Announced at the end of 2025, the sale of 49% of the capital of RLE took a further step earlier this week with the appointment of two investment banks to oversee the process. First estimates put the value of the deal at around 800 million euros. RLE includes Hexafret, Captrain France, VIIA, Naviland Cargo, Forwardis and Technis, making it the largest player in the country.

CMA CGM’s expansion

For companies like CMA CGM, vertical integration is the name of the game. The acquisition of the capital of RLE would follow the recent takeover of the intermodal segment of Freightliner UK, finalised at the end of January. Over the past few years, the French shipping company expanded its logistics portfolio with the acquisition of CEVA Logistics, Bolloré Logistics and a 20% stake in the EUROGATE Terminal in Hamburg.