In the Mediterranean port of Sète (France), a terminal equipped with the Modalohr system for horizontal loading and unloading of truck trailers has been put into operation. The terminal has a capacity of up to 40,000 units per year, which will make it possible, starting from December 2025, to increase the number of trains traveling across France to the port of Calais from three to five. Trailers are delivered to Sète by DFDS ferries from the Turkish ports of Yalova and Izmir, with a volume of up to 130,000 units per year.
Transport between French ports is operated by VIIA – a subsidiary of the French National Railway Company (SNCF) – while traction services are provided by DB Cargo France.
VIIA has invested €10.1 million in equipping the terminal with the new technology, which has replaced traditional reach stackers. The French government contributed €3 million, the port of Sète €3.7 million, and the Occitanie region €4.7 million. The operator plans to increase the annual volume of rail trailer transport from 15,000 to 40,000 units.
In the port of Calais, the volume of trailer handling is expected to grow from 46,000 to 100,000 units annually within five years. This will make it possible to increase the number of trains carrying trailers to the Le Boulou terminal from nine to twelve per week, and to the Mâcon terminal from three to five.
The busiest route between terminals equipped for horizontal trailer transshipment is the one connecting the Bettembourg terminal in Luxembourg and Le Boulou on the Spanish border – with 27 pairs of trains per week.
