France’s rail network manager, RFF, is planning to introduce a security fee on rail freight traffic through the Channel Tunnel next year, which could work out at €600 per train, IFW reports.
The fee would cover safety provision for trains making an obligatory stop to change locomotives in a transit zone near the French entrance to the tunnel.
The almost constant presence of migrants near this zone, looking to gain passage to the UK, and the risk of terrorist attacks, has led to the French authorities drawing up strict surveillance regulations.
To date, state rail freight operator Fret SNCF alone has shouldered the responsibility and the cost of protecting the zone, working in collaboration with police and customs.
However, with the increasing market share of private rail freight operators through the tunnel, SNCF has indicated to RFF that it is no longer appropriate that it carry out the role.
So, from 1 January, RFF will take on responsibility for the zone, employing a security firm whose services will be paid for through the security fee scheme.
“Fret SNCF has a 20% share of freight train traffic through the tunnel, but has been paying for the security provision of competitors’ trains too, so one can well understand its position,” an RFF spokesman told IFW.
But he played down the impact of the fee on rail freight operators’ costs.
“When put in the context of the total cost of running a freight train over distances of 1,000km, it is not that significant,” he said.
According to figures from RFF, rail freight traffic carried on the French network fell by 4.3% in the first nine months of 2011, compared with the same period last year. Fret SNCF’s traffic alone was down 13.4%.
Private operators’ share of the French market stood at almost 24%.
The fee would cover safety provision for trains making an obligatory stop to change locomotives in a transit zone near the French entrance to the tunnel.
The almost constant presence of migrants near this zone, looking to gain passage to the UK, and the risk of terrorist attacks, has led to the French authorities drawing up strict surveillance regulations.
To date, state rail freight operator Fret SNCF alone has shouldered the responsibility and the cost of protecting the zone, working in collaboration with police and customs.
However, with the increasing market share of private rail freight operators through the tunnel, SNCF has indicated to RFF that it is no longer appropriate that it carry out the role.
So, from 1 January, RFF will take on responsibility for the zone, employing a security firm whose services will be paid for through the security fee scheme.
“Fret SNCF has a 20% share of freight train traffic through the tunnel, but has been paying for the security provision of competitors’ trains too, so one can well understand its position,” an RFF spokesman told IFW.
But he played down the impact of the fee on rail freight operators’ costs.
“When put in the context of the total cost of running a freight train over distances of 1,000km, it is not that significant,” he said.
According to figures from RFF, rail freight traffic carried on the French network fell by 4.3% in the first nine months of 2011, compared with the same period last year. Fret SNCF’s traffic alone was down 13.4%.
Private operators’ share of the French market stood at almost 24%.