French intermodal freight transport solutions group Modalis and the Port of Dunkirk have laid the foundation stone of a combined rail-road freight transhipment terminal. The facility is scheduled for completion in spring 2026.
Representing an investment of 25 million euros, jointly funded by the two partners, it is designed to accommodate the modal shift to rail of traffic generated by ro-ro, logistics and industrial activities in the Dunkirk area. The target is to transfer up to 50,000 transport units per year from road to rail thus avoiding the emission of 70,000 tonnes of CO₂.
Dunkirk-Port’s Chairman of the Management Board, Maurice Georges, underlined that the project would facilitate the smooth flow of land transport services to the port and its surrounding area, while also contributing to European targets for long-distance modal shift. “This is a decisive step towards more sustainable and efficient logistics,” he said.
Importance of rail-port connectivity
Modalis’ group chairman,Bernard Meï, noted that the complementarity between the logistics, port and rail ecosystems was one of the major challenges of decarbonisation. “The seaports have an essential role to play in supporting intermodal development80% of goods arrive through them and the choice is then made to use rail, water or road transport.Equipping the ports with modern modal shift infrastructure and efficient handling vehicles will guarantee mass freight demand throughout France.”
Terminal outlook
The combi terminal will be located on 9.6 hectares along the Loon-Plage railway line, at the heart of an extensive industrial zone and close to the ro-ro ferry terminals from which ferry services operate to the UK andIreland. Open to all rail operators, the terminal will have the capacity to handle up to four 750 metre-long freight trains. It will also be equipped with a large storage area that can accommodate more than 600 transport units (swap bodies or trailers).
Benefits for Italy
The terminal is scheduled from completion in spring 2026 with its first scheduled service to be launched in September linking Dunkirk to Lyon and Piacenza, in northern Italy, with onward connections to Rome, Naples and Bari. Three weekly round trips are planned which could rise to five in 2027. The Lyon-Piacenza leg of this service will be launched by Delta Rail early next year with three weekly round trips. Italian shippers are said to be keen to have on-forwarding solutions to the UK and Ireland market and will be able to take advantage of Danish ro-ro shipping company DFDS’ ferry services from Dunkirk to Dover and Rosslare.