France’s transport minister Philippe Tabarot pledged support to redirect the proceeds from the country’s network of toll motorways to rail with the aim of modernising infrastructure. French rail freight industry body Alliance 4F met with Tabarot and has applauded the initiative.
Over the past 18 months, Alliance 4F has played a key, consultative role in drawing up a 4 billion euros investment programme in rail freight over the next decade, Ulysse Fret, to be co-funded by the French state and the EU. While Ulysse Fret is a major step forward, it is only a starting point and that correcting 40 years of under-investment in the rail network requires rigorous implementation and lasting commitments.
“Ulysse Fret sets out an ambitious roadmap for the future of rail freight, but the challenge now is to take action. Together with all our members – rail industries, rail companies, combined transport operators, trade associations, groups and federations – we remain fully committed, demanding and constructive in our efforts to make rail freight an efficient, sustainable logistics solution that can meet the challenges of the future”, said Raphaël Doutrebente, President of Alliance 4F.
‘Sector is in full transformation’
Meanwhile, Alliance 4F has hit back at media coverage which claimed “the future of the sector in Europe looks increasingly bleak”. A recent article published in the economic revue, Usine Nouvelle, cast serious doubts on whether doubling rail’s modal share of freight transport in Europe was achievable. However, Alliance 4F responded pointing out that behind the pessimistic headlines, the reality is that the sector is in full transformation.
“Weak signals are becoming strong levers for building more sustainable, high-performance logistics. A +4% modal share is accessible without heavy investment, simply by optimising network management. A trans-European transport network is being rolled out, with 740 metre-long trains and a unified management system (ERTMS)”, the association underlined.
It also highlighted the projected impact of the Ulysse Fret investment programme while other factors driving the sector forward are that combined rail-road transport now accounts for 40% of rail freight, with strong growth momentum in France and Europe. On the technology front, innovations such as Track Value are now in service, offering real-time traceability via spatial connectivity.
‘The future is being written now’
️Moreover, upheaval in the road haulage sector, with rising costs and a serious shortage of drivers,is providing rail with “a real window of opportunity”. Alliance 4F concluded: “Customer demand for rail freight, whether conventional or combined, is growing all the time. Rail is confirming its essential role in a more resilient, low-carbon and competitive supply chain. Within 4F, all the players continue to invest, innovate and cooperate. Rail has a future – it’s being written now.”