This project comes at a time when France and the European Union are strengthening their energy transition and reindustrialisation policies.
With transport accounting for nearly 30% of national CO₂ emissions, the development of rail freight has become a priority.
This is supported by the France Logistique 2030 plan, the national strategy for rail freight, and the objectives of the European Green Deal, which aims to double the volume of rail freight by 2050.
The terminal is scheduled to be operational from spring 2026 and will enable the rail transport of road semi-trailers and swap bodies (ITUs) over long distances, thereby reducing reliance on road-only transport.
Completed in less than two years, this €25 million project, co-funded by the two partners, represents a collaboration built on trust and a shared vision for sustainable and smart mobility.
The terminal is designed to transfer road traffic generated by Ro-Ro, logistics, and industrial activities in the Dunkirk area and beyond onto rail.
Open to all rail operators, it can accommodate up to four 750-metre-long freight trains, each capable of transporting the equivalent of 130 to 150 semi-trailers. A large storage area can hold more than 600 transport units, including swap bodies and trailers.
Ultimately, up to 50,000 ITUs could be removed from the road each year, avoiding nearly 70,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
The first regular service will connect Dunkirk to Piacenza in Italy via Lyon, operated by DELTA RAIL, a subsidiary of the MODALIS Group. This rail corridor will link the industrial basins of northern and southern Europe, with logistical continuity to the United Kingdom through the DFDS shipping lines between Dunkirk, Dover, and Rosslare.
Vehicles powered by HVO fuel reduce CO₂ emissions by 85%, and electric locomotives will be used for rail manoeuvres. Additionally, a shared maintenance area, open to all operators, will support the upkeep of wagons, swap bodies, and semi-trailers, enhancing regional service offerings and reducing costly empty journeys.