Rail freight in France performed better in 2024 than it did in 2023, but the sector is far from flourishing, as volumes are still below figures from four years ago. Moreover, the state-owned operator, formerly known as Fret SNCF and now Hexafret, continued to lose some of its market share, albeit remaining the largest operator by far.
When it comes to the performance of the industry, there were year-on-year increases in tonnes/kilometre (10%), trains/kilometre (3%) and tonnes/train (7%) between 2023 and 2024. However, data from the French Transport Regulation Authority (ART) shows that the first two categories are still each 10% lower than in 2021. The average tonnes loaded on each train is now back at the volumes from four years ago, as the graph below shows.
DB Cargo France gaining ground
State-owned Fret SNCF (now Hexafret) had to give up all its combined transport contracts at the end of 2023. As mentioned, the company lost 6% of the market share between 2023 and 2024, from 48 to 42%. This downward trend is even sharper if compared to 2022, when Fret SNCF was a proper hegemonic force with 65% market share, as ART highlighted. As a consequence, the presence of private operators in France grew, especially DB Cargo France, which went from 13% market share in 2023 to 18% in 2024.
Combined transport is growing
The ART report added that major industrial actions and strikes did not significantly affect the French sector, which was mostly impacted by the closure of the Frejus Railway, the main axis between Italy and France closed for most of 2024. Despite the unavailability of an important combined transport corridor, most of the growth registered between 2023 and 2024 comes from here, with a 20% increase which brought it back near 2022 volumes. On the other hand, conventional transport continues to struggle, both in single wagonload and well as block train traffic.
