Britanny Ferries and Ports of Normandy launch intermodal project

Photo: Brittany Ferries

The initiative is aimed at linking the UK and Ireland to Spain via Cherbourg. It is the first major combined transport project for the Atlantic Corridor, presenting an incentive for the Port of Cherbourg to extend its hinterland network.

In order to make it happen, Brittany Ferries must invest in the construction of a railway  terminal in Mouguerre (Greater Bayonne) and operate two daily train paths over 950 km of track between Mouguerre and Cherbourg, with a transport capacity of 42 trailers in each direction.

Various factors were responsible for the move, all suggesting a shift in trends towards more integrated road haulage, favouring an increase in unaccompanied trailer flows along multimodal high-volume transport chain. The heavy goods vehicle (HGV) transit through France via the Channel rose by 25% in the past 10 years and is expected to reach 5m crossings by 2025. The ferry freight market is also growing and new challenges related to Brexit, increase in vessel size or environmental regulations need to be taken into account.

Developing an intermodal service is expected to allow Brittany Ferries to improve productivity, transport less road tractors, anticipate regulatory restrictions due to the service’s positive environmental impact, as well as strengthen its position on routes between Spain and the Anglo-Celtic Isles. This rail project is part of a wider strategy which also includes completely renewing the company's fleet of ships, with Ouistreham and Cherbourg being the first to benefit as of 2020.

The undertaking is underpinned by LOHR technology, ensuring trailer gauge compatibility with railway tunnels (a major constraint on the Atlantic Corridor railway network), enabling loading of non-cranable trailers and allowing for links to other French and European terminals, e.g. Sète, Marseille or Italy.

The project found immediate resonance with Normandy's Regional Council and Ports' of Normandy regional marketing plans. Long-term strategic goals of the latter include catering for larger ships, hinterland expansions, Brexit resilience, contributions to greener and cleaner transport, as well as the implementation of multimodal services as an alternative solution to road haulage, compatible with existing ones.

Construction of the Cherbourg terminal – supervised and financed by the Ports of Normandy – should start in September after public consultation, which is scheduled for April 2020. The terminal and the combined transport route are scheduled to be opened in April 2021.

After a run-in period, the route should be able to transport about 20k trailers every year to and from the port of Cherbourg, i.e. the same volume currently managed at Cherbourg for the UK market.

Ports of Normandy will be contributing €7m to this project, including €1.4m in backing from European funds and additional funding provided by the Normandy Region, the Manche department and the Cotentin agglomeration community.

Jean-Marc Roué, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Brittany Ferries, said, "[…] Brexit is now underway and we need to strengthen trade links between the North and South. Connecting Spain to the UK and Ireland by combining road, rail and sea transport is fully in line with our company’s responsible energy transition strategy. Ouistreham is, and will remain, the number one freight port for Brittany Ferries […]."

Hervé Morin, Chairman, Ports of Normandy, added, "By expanding the port of Cherbourg's hinterland, this project aims to continue developing the port, which has outstanding deepwater qualities, without affecting cross-Channel traffic at Dieppe and Ouistreham. It will be a complementary and eco-friendly alternative."