{"id":497113,"date":"2026-08-03T22:28:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T12:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=73216"},"modified":"2026-08-03T22:28:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T12:28:12","slug":"cma-cgm-withdraws-bid-for-sncf-rail-freight-stake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=497113","title":{"rendered":"CMA CGM withdraws bid for SNCF rail freight stake?"},"content":{"rendered":"

CMA CGM has pulled out of the race for a minority stake (49%) in Rail Logistics Europe (RLE), which groups all of theFrench state railways SNCF’s rail freight interests, according to a report in the French media. Contacted by RailFreight.com, both CMA CGM and SNCF declined to comment.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The news of the French ocean shipping line withdrawing its shareholding bid has not come as a complete surprise to industry observers. Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saad\u00e9 expressed from the outset that he was only interested in a small proportion of RLE\u2019s activities, most likely, those involved in the transport of maritime containers. This was underlined in a media interview he gave last month.<\/p>\n

Personality clash<\/h2>\n

Such a position does not correspond with SNCF\u2019s strategy which focuses on finding a shareholder partner ready to take a stake which encompasses the full range of RLE\u2019s activities. \u201cCMA CGM pulling out doesn\u2019t surprise me. First of all, there appears to be personality clash between the two protagonists; SNCF chairman Jean Castex and Rodolphe Saad\u00e9. It seems that they have met on three occasions and that each time things went badly. Two strong egos, no doubt,\u201d a source told RailFreight.com.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, I think that SNCF has failed to realise that even if a multi-hundred million investment is a relatively minor sum for CMA CGM, it nevertheless entitles them to having a say in the governance of RLE \u2013 guarantees they didn\u2019t get as Castex isn\u2019t one to share power.\u201d<\/p>\n