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Brittany Ferries and Cherbourg unveil intermodal plan

[ February 12, 2020   //   ]

Brittany Ferries and Ports of Normandy have unveiled details of a new rail-sea intermodal project linking the south-west of France with the UK and Ireland via a new rail-sea terminal at the port of Cherbourg. It would be based on a new rail link from Mouguerre, near Bayonne on the Spanish-French border to Cherbourg, from where ferry connections would operate to both the UK and Ireland.

The rail route between Bayonne and Cherbourg would be upgraded and would include alternative lines in the event of the regular route becoming unavailable.

A site for the terminal has been identified at Mouguerre in Bayonne that would allow trains up to 750 metres lone while in Cherbourg a site close to the existing ro ro terminal has been selected. The trains themselves would use the Lohr intermodal system that would allow liftable and non-liftable road trailers to be carried along with containers and swapbodies.

There would be two shuttle trains each with 22 wagons and it is envisaged that departures from Cherbourg would be at about 18.45, arriving in Mouguerre at about 09.30 the following morning. The return schedule would be about 16.30 from Mouguerre, arriving in Cherboug at 09.15.

Britanny Ferries currently operates a service from Cherbourg to Portsmouth and Poole, although Ireland has also been identified as a potential market.

There are also plans for a terminal and link to the port of Sete in the eastern Mediterranean.

An invitation to tender for the design and operation of the Cherbourg terminal has been launched with the start of construction – managed and financed by Ports of Normandy – expected to start in September following a public consultation. Start of service is expected in April 2021.

Ports of Normandy is investing €7 million in the scheme, with the backing of regional and European funds.

In concept, the scheme is similar to the train services from southern France and Italy to the port of Calais operated by the French Railways VIIA logistics arm. Ports of Normandy says that it is anxious to maintain and indeed increase its competitiveness at a time when the movement of freight to and from the UK is likely to be affected by Brexit.

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