{"id":73,"date":"2024-01-05T21:08:38","date_gmt":"2024-01-05T11:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=49071"},"modified":"2024-01-05T21:08:38","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T11:08:38","slug":"rail-freight-service-levels-markedly-increased-says-sncf-reseau","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=73","title":{"rendered":"Rail freight service levels markedly increased, says SNCF R\u00e9seau"},"content":{"rendered":"

French infrastructure manager (IM) SNCF R\u00e9seau claims there has been a marked improvement in customer service levels in recent years. The volume of freight train paths on offer increased by 72 per cent since 2020. Moreover, the company is now able to respond to 89 per cent of its customers’ requests with an improved allocation of train paths, whereas in 2013 the figure did not exceed 70 per cent.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The data was provided by Paul Mazataud SNCF R\u00e9seau Head of Rail Freight in an interview with a French trade publication. His comments were confirmed to Railfreight.com by a spokesperson for SNCF R\u00e9seau. These increases are mainly due to an offer that is presented with adequate prior notice and takes better account of maintenance work.<\/p>\n

Increased capacity for combined transport and capillary lines<\/h2>\n

Mazataud underlined the progress that has been made in serving the intermodal segment and capillary or secondary rail lines. He said that for some time now, SNCF R\u00e9seau has been increasing the capacity of its combined transport terminals, with major investments at three major sites: V\u00e9nissieux (near Lyon), Valenton (southeast of Paris) and Les Aubrais (near Orl\u00e9ans). There is also another project in Rennes, in the northwest.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese national-scale initiatives are accompanied by promising ones involving smaller sites\u201d, Mazataud underlined. He mentioned that the French IM supported intermodal operator Geodis in starting up a small combined transport hub at Puyo\u00f4, in the Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es Atlantiques region (in proximity to the border between France and Spain). This terminal was quickly put into service to meet buoyant local demand.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted that investment in capillary lines has risen sharply, with commitments totalling 200 million euros for the years 2021-2022. Also envisioned is a 4-billion-euro rail freight investment plan for the period 2023-2032, which means the pace of spending should remain high over the next few years. A recently-completed project saw the reopening of a 33 km stretch of line between Saint-Varent and Parthenay (Centre-West France), with traffic expected to reach 1.5 million tonnes per year.<\/p>\n

Frejus Railway closure still a challenge<\/h2>\n

Mazataud also addressed the situation regarding the Frejus Railway, the main connection between France and Italy, closed since August 2023, probably until the end of 2024<\/a>, due to a landslide. Mazataud said that following the landslide, SNCF R\u00e9seau and the Swiss and Italian rail infrastructure managers are cooperating to find much needed solutions. Alternative routes were offered to SNCF R\u00e9seau\u2019s customers to and from Italy, via the border points of Ventimiglia or via Basel. \u201cWork to clear and secure the cliff is underway. At the end of this essential stage, we will be able to consolidate a schedule for the renewal of the rail installations and envisage a timeframe for the resumption of traffic.\u201d<\/p>\n

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