Wedoany.com Report-Jan 2, On December 10, 2024, a pilot freight train completed a test run along the railway line connecting Cherbourg-en-Cotentin station to the newly established rail terminal at the port of Cherbourg.
The objective was to validate the infrastructure's functionality, including track geometry, switch operation, and LOHR equipment performance, before the planned resumption of regular freight traffic in spring 2025.
This rail freight initiative is a collaborative effort involving Brittany Ferries, Ports de Normandie, Cherbourg Port, and SNCF Réseau, with financial support from the State and the European Union. The project aims to reintroduce consistent freight rail services between Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and Bayonne, contributing to logistics decarbonization.
The railway line, which had been without regular freight activity for nearly two decades, underwent significant upgrades to meet operational and safety standards. Previously, sporadic rail movements, such as the transportation of EDF Flamanville plant components in 2019, demonstrated the line's residual capacity.
3 weekly round trips between Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and Bayonne
When operations commence in spring 2025, an initial schedule of three weekly round trips will connect Cherbourg-en-Cotentin with Bayonne. This frequency is expected to increase to five round trips per week. Each train will accommodate up to 21 wagons, capable of carrying 42 semi-trailers, spanning a total length of 750 meters.
Logistical coordination for train movements will consider ferry arrival schedules and road traffic patterns in Cherbourg to minimize disruptions caused by level crossing closures. As part of the preparations, SNCF Réseau has undertaken infrastructure improvements along the corridor, including bridge renovations between Caen and Tours and tunnel upgrades between Poitiers and Bordeaux.
This freight rail link aligns with the National Strategy for Rail Freight Development, which aims to reduce road traffic emissions and optimize freight logistics. In the long term, the connection is expected to form part of a broader Atlantic freight corridor stretching from Dourges in northern France to Vittoria in Spain.
