Doubling freight rail’s modal share by 2030

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Did you know that a freight train (or a goods or cargo train) can carry the same load as 40 lorries, while producing nine times less CO₂ and consuming six times less energy? For us, the solution is clear: In the face of the climate emergency, we must double the modal share of freight rail by 2030.

The advantages of freight rail

In his op-ed “Le Fer contre le Carbone” [Rail versus Carbon], published in 2022, Jean-Pierre Farandou, Chairman and CEO of the SNCF Group, shared a striking fact: “Shifting just 10% of the modal share—freight and passenger transport—from road to rail in France would enable us to achieve between 22% and 33% of the transport sector’s decarbonisation targets.” Nearly a third; that is huge! 

Rail has three key environmental advantages: It cuts CO₂ emissions, conserves energy and reduces land use.

Author : Jean-Pierre Farandou, Chairman and CEO of SNCF

Beyond its obvious environmental benefits, freight rail is a high-performance transport mode with much more to offer.

A driver of economic development   

Rail transport boosts a region’s economic appeal. With a dense network serving all of France, it supports the growth of industrial, port and logistics activities.  

A positive social impact  

Rail is a far safer mode of transport than road. It also helps create local jobs, especially through the operation of railway sites.  

An intermodal solution   

Goods can be transported end to end by combining rail with river and road transport, over short, medium or long distances.   

High load capacity     

Rail offers massive load capacity at a low cost per tonne. It is especially cost-competitive for transporting high-density goods over medium to long distances. 

They chose freight rail

More and more industrial players are turning to combined transport, a flexible and efficient logistics solution for bulk freight. The REMOVE programme brings together key stakeholders in the sector, including SNCF Réseau, which offers tailored support for accessing rail infrastructure and services adapted to the specific needs of freight operators.

The Remove programme

Freight rail in France today means...

  • 1,000

    freight trains running each day across the national rail network

  • 300,000

    tonnes of goods transported every weekday

  • 10%

    of goods moved by rail (compared with 19% on average across the EU)

  • 1,100

    terminal connections (rail links serving businesses, factories, depots, industrial and port areas)

  • 335

    freight yards (service tracks for loading and unloading)

  • 15

    combined transport terminals (rail, waterway, road)

5 years to boost freight rail

In 2021, SNCF Réseau launched a five-year programme to ramp up freight rail in France. The various projects will continue through to 2025. 

2023:  

  • Improve punctuality  
  • Secure funding

2024: 

  • Strengthen the freight business model  

2025: 

  • Streamline the customer journey through digital tools  
  • Engage stakeholders through communication  
  • Prepare for medium- and long-term growth 

Challenges to overcome

Our levers for success

€4 billion in rail freight rail investment

To support the doubling of rail freight rail's modal share as required by law, the Directorate General for Infrastructure, Transport and Mobility (DGITM), the 4F Alliance [French freight rail of the future], and SNCF Réseau have jointly developed an investment plan covering the 2023–2032 period.  

The total investments amount to €4 billion, including €2 billion in state funding, and will focus on: 

  • Renewing existing infrastructure  
  • Modernising the network 
  • Expanding terminal capacity 
  • Developing digital systems 

Find out more