Hauts-de-France: A Strategic Hub for Rail Freight and Shippers' Competitiveness

The september 11th, Norlink had the pleasure to speak in an EverySens Railtech webinar to promote rail freight. Below are some of the info shared with the audience.

Hauts-de-France is emerging as a pivotal region for rail freight, particularly in its connections with the United Kingdom. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, an extensive service offering, and a mobilized network of stakeholders, the region stands out as a key player for companies looking to enhance their logistics flows.

In this article, we will explore the three pillars that make Hauts-de-France a central actor in the development of competitive rail freight services.

A Premier Infrastructure Network

One of Hauts-de-France’s greatest assets lies in its exceptional infrastructure network. Ports, logistics platforms, and rail links are all vital components in the success of freight operations, particularly in the cross-Channel sector.

The three primary cross-Channel infrastructures—the Eurotunnel, the Port of Boulogne-Calais, and the Dunkerque Port—are all located in this region, providing strategic gateways to the United Kingdom. Once goods cross the Channel, they arrive in a region with high-performance infrastructure, not only for moving across the Channel but also for further distribution throughout Europe.

The region’s coastline is also well-served by rail motorways, which connect to numerous European destinations. Key players like VIIA, and CargoBeamer are critical components of the rail transport infrastructure in Hauts-de-France.

Further inland, logistics hubs such as the Ports de Lille, Delta 3/LDCT, and the Ports de l'Escaut are all well connected to national and European networks. To the south, Les Ports de l’Oise are linked to the Seine River infrastructures, creating a seamless connection between river and rail transport.

Here are a few key statistics that highlight the region’s infrastructure capabilities:

• Nearly 3,000 km of rail network, with 290 freight trains operating daily, representing approximately 20% of all French rail freight traffic (in 2022).
• The rail modal share in the region is 18%, which is double the national average in France.
• The coastal ports and the Channel Tunnel handle over 100 million tonnes of freight annually, accounting for more than 60% of cross-Channel flows.
• Inland, the region’s ports manage 30 million tonnes of freight, and the forthcoming Canal Seine-Nord will further boost capacity, adding 4 public ports and 10 private ports, many of which will be connected to the rail network.

This extensive infrastructure network is the backbone of the region’s logistics strength, but its full potential is unlocked by a dense and efficient network of transport services.

A Service Network Connected to Europe and Beyond

The next key strength of Hauts-de-France lies in its dense transport service network.

While the cross-Channel network is well-known, it is worth emphasizing that the short strait remains the fastest and most efficient route for freight between continental Europe and the UK, whether by rail or by sea.

Once goods arrive in Hauts-de-France, they enter a region that is exceptionally well-connected to the rest of Europe and beyond. Rail freight links the region not only to France and southern Europe but also to the entire European continent.

In terms of services, the region boasts:

• 43 destinations served by combined rail transport,
• 36 inland barge routes dedicated to container traffic,
• And in total, 246 weekly departures across these modes of transport.

Combined transport in this context includes containers, semi-trailers, and rail motorways, in addition to conventional rail freight services. If you look at conventional rail freight, there would much more to write about...

For companies seeking detailed information about these services, the portal easyMultimodal.fr provides comprehensive insight into the region’s transport offerings.

A Network of Stakeholders Committed to Competitiveness

In addition to its physical assets, Hauts-de-France benefits from a highly engaged network of stakeholders, which is essential to fostering competitive and efficient rail freight solutions.

The region is home to many rail freight operators and major rail freight users, but it also offers unique institutional support that provides tangible advantages to companies.

For example, Euralogistic, a major logistics cluster, provides direct support for innovative transport and logistics projects. Additionally, Nord France Invest (NFI), the region’s investment and promotion agency, offers tailor-made services to companies looking to invest in Hauts-de-France.

Moreover, we work closely with the Chamber of Commerce, the Prefecture's services and the Regional Council, all of which are deeply committed to promoting rail freight through investments, partnerships, and dedicated events. Cities and promotion agencies are also very much involved (Lille, Dunkirk, etc.)

Our association, Norlink, also plays an active role within this ecosystem, promoting rail freight to both internal and external stakeholders.

Many other should be named here!

Subsidies: Enhancing Rail Competitiveness

Finally, in the rare cases where rail freight may be less competitive, France offers several subsidy programs to maintain the appeal of rail transport.

For example, the Certificats d’Économies d’Énergies (CEE) provide subsidies for bulk and container transport.

Companies can also apply for subsidies to create new rail traffic in France, with grants covering 25% to 45% of costs, up to 800,000 euros. The next application period will open in early 2025.

Additional funds are available for the purchase of rail wagons and intermodal transport units, providing a financial edge for companies using rail freight.

These subsidies are a true game-changer, offering concrete financial incentives that make rail freight not only a sustainable choice but also a cost-effective one.

Conclusion

Hauts-de-France is clearly a key player in the rail freight sector, with high-performance infrastructure, a dense service network, and a collaborative ecosystem of stakeholders. Whether you are looking to strengthen your connections with the UK or optimize your logistics flows across Europe, the region offers competitive, sustainable, and efficient rail freight solutions.

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Here is the support of presentation that was using during this presentation :

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