CMA CGM and its public sector partners laid the foundation stone for the modernisation and extension of the Lyon Rhône Terminal (LRT) at the French city’s inland port. The aim is to increase the terminal’s throughput from around 120,000 to 200,000 TEU per year by 2032, by utilising river and rail links to connect Lyon to Marseille-Fos and the major European freight corridors.
LRT connects businesses in the region to the maritime terminals at Marseille/Fos-sur-Mer via the river Rhône, as well as to the major French and European rail hubs, notably to Calais, Dunkirk, Bettembourg (Luxembourg) and Piacenza (Italy).
“Lyon Rhône Terminal enjoys a unique location at the heart of a major economic centre, with direct rail and river links to France’s two largest ports,” underlined Christine Cabau Woehrel, EVP of the CMA CGM Group. “Thanks to the expansion works, we will give it the means to grow and fully fulfil its role as a multimodal hub.” In a market with an estimated accessible maritime capacity of 305,000 TEU, road transport still accounts for around 65% of freight flows, compared with 30% for rail and 5 to 10% for river transport.
By combining river, rail and road transport, the terminal is looking to offer shippers competitive solutions and reduce the environmental footprint of freight transport. The expansion programme entails extending the hub by approximately three hectares, refurbishing existing roads, utility networks, buildings and facilities, upgrading equipment and digitising operations. The project also includes enhancing rail connectivity, with a total of seven tracks eventually planned for the modernised terminal.
Ongoing multi-modal freight strategy
CMA CGM has been operating and developing the LRT since April 2025 under a 30-year sub-concession awarded by state agency, the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône and has 67% stake in the terminal. The Marseille-based group is pursuing an ongoing strategy to develop a multi-modal freight transport offering that includes rail.
Earlier this year, it completed the acquisition of UK operator Freightliner to boost its intermodal services, taking over 2,000 wagons, 10 terminals and one of the largest fleets of electric locomotives in the UK. In May last year, it increased its weekly rail services between Marseille and Lyon, in southeast France, to five departures in each direction. The increased frequency is expected to boost international trade to and from Lyon, where the group is investing significantly.
This summer, CMA CGM pulled out of the race for a minority stake (49%) in Rail Logistics Europe (RLE), which groups all of the French state railways SNCF’s rail freight interests. News of its withdrawal did not come as a complete surprise to industry observers as chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé had expressed from the outset that he was only interested in a small proportion of RLE’s activities, most likely those involved in the transport of maritime containers.