Intermodal solutions group Modalis has abandoned plans to build a combined road-rail freight transport terminal at Fos-sur-Mer, part of the Port of Marseille. The project, named Tonkin Terminal Multimodal, has not advanced at all since it was first announced in 2022.
Under an initial timeframe, the terminal was to have entered service last year with Elengy, a specialist in liquefied natural gas (LNG), viewed as a potential customer. Modalis’ chairman, Bernard Meï, had set a date of 31 December, 2024 for a decision on the future of the project but the deadline passed without the Marseille Port Authority (GPMM) – which has a stated policy of promoting a modal shift in freight from road to rail – officially committing to the development of the terminal.
Continuous constraint from administrative authorities
One possible administrative obstacle identified by Modalis was the lack of precise land use mapping at Marseille-Fos to clarify the obligations imposed on each plot of port property. Commenting on the decision to abandon Tonkin Terminal Multimodal, in an interview with French media, Meï explained that Modalis had invested 600,000 euros in soil and environmental studies to try and get the project off the ground, but the various administrative authorities had continually imposed new constraints.
“As costs have also rocketed since 2022, our estimated investment has almost doubled, to more than 30 million euros. We have never received any precise answers, particularly on environmental compensation, which is adding to the forecasted budget and calling into question the potential financial viability of the overall project. As long as we don’t have the precise cost of the compensation, how can we make a favourable decision if it can vary from 500,000 euros to five 5 million euros ? ”
He added that there had been broad support for the project, from the State, the GPMM, the metropolitan and regional councils, who recognised its general interest as it would take trucks off the road and put them on trains. “At Fos, the challenge is real, with 8,000 trucks a day,” Meï underlined. However, Modalis has not given up all hope of setting up a combi terminal at Marseille-Fos, having asked the GPMM to come up with another location and are awaiting their response, he underlined.