{"id":165508,"date":"2025-01-09T18:45:36","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T08:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=58923"},"modified":"2025-01-09T18:45:36","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T08:45:36","slug":"french-rail-freight-company-combirail-adds-third-route","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=165508","title":{"rendered":"French rail freight company Combirail adds third route"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rail freight company Combirail has introduced a third route in its 2025 schedule, linking Lille, Avignon and Miramas, on the outskirts of Marseille, on behalf of combined rail-road transport operator T3M. The other two routes are Paris\/Bonneuil-Avignon and Paris\/Bonneuil-Miramas\/Marseille.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Combirail was set up in 2019 and is majority-owned by the Open Modal Group. Multimodal logistics company Combronde holding a minority stake. It has a fleet of around 12 locomotives. \u201cThe technical and logistical organisation put in place means that the 1,200 km between Lille, Avignon and Miramas can be covered every day, ensuring maximum reliability for customers on a major freight route,\u201d Combirail said.<\/p>\n

Increasing workforce<\/h2>\n

The company is on a strong growth curve, its workforce increasing from around ten to almost 90. \u201cThis growth is based on a rigorous logistics organisation, supported by high-quality production equipment and recognised expertise in flow management,\u201d it underlined. Open Modal is one of the prime movers in the development of rail freight in France.<\/p>\n

Last year, it commissioned a multi-user, state-of-the-art intermodal hub for swap bodies and containers in Miramas, on the outskirts of Marseille. The terminal has attracted public and private investment estimated at almost 40 million euros.<\/p>\n

Acquiring terminals<\/h2>\n

According to French media, Open Modal, has been in exclusive negotiations with France \u2019s rail network manager, SNCF R\u00e9seau, to acquire and modernise the existing road-rail combined transport terminal located at Fenouillet, in proximity to Toulouse along the lines of the Miramas hub. However, neither party has confirmed this.<\/p>\n

The strategy of acquiring previously-leased terminals gives Open Modal control of the entire combined transport chain, through several subsidiary companies: TAB Rail Road (road haulage), T3M (combined transport operator), BTM (multimodal terminal operator) and Combirail. These terminals would be open to other combined transport operators.<\/p>\n