SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) has established a new subsidiary with the aim of developing rail freight in France, named SBB Cargo France and based in Huningue in Alsace.
SBB Cargo operates domestic freight services within Switzerland, while SBB operates freight trains in Germany and Italy through its subsidiary SBB Cargo International.
The new subsidiary is likely to operate freight trains on diversionary routes through France due to limited capacity on European Rail Freight Corridor 1 (RFC 1). This is the Rhine-Alpine corridor that runs from Rotterdam and other North Sea ports to Genoa via Cologne, Karlsruhe and Basle.
SBB Cargo International told IRJ that traffic on the section of RFC 1 in Germany north of Basle is reaching capacity limits, a situation that is unlikely to be resolved until the 2040s.
“The route via France is therefore an important alternative,” an SBB Cargo International spokesperson said, although no further information was forthcoming.
Capacity constraints on RFC 1 are mostly present between Basle and Karlsruhe. Diverting trains through France would mean operating on the non-electrified line running north from Strasbourg to Lauterbourg on the German border, which at present is under-equipped to handle major transit freight traffic.
Another alternative might be to operate from Basle to Koblenz in Germany via Thionville in eastern France.
SBB’s freight operations in France have been minimal until now. Transit traffic on the Basle - Strasbourg - Luxembourg - Antwerp corridor has been organised through Sibelit, a joint venture with French National Railways (SNCF), Luxembourg Railways (CFL) and Belgian freight operator Lineas.
A Vossloh G1206 diesel locomotive hired from German freight operator MWB is used to operate trip workings from Basle to Huningue, a river port on the opposite bank of the Rhine to Basle.
Most other cross-border freight between Switzerland and France involves Fret SNCF operating into Switzerland.
