Marseille selects operator for new 'combi' terminal
The Marseille Port Authority (GPMM) has selected a consortium to build and operate a combined transport hub facility located near the Mourepiane Med Europe Container Terminal in the port’s Eastern Basin.
The consortium will be led by transport infrastructure development specialist Progenor and will be comprised of SNCF Geodis subsidiary, Naviland Cargo, CMA Rail and T3M.
Investment costs are estimated at €60 million and negotiations will now begin between GPMM and the consortium on the co-financing of the project with the closing of an agreement scheduled by the end of the year.
The ’combi’ hub will handle up to 150,000 containers and swap bodies annually, doubling current capacity levels for rail-borne container traffic in the port zone generated by freight trains operating routes to northern France and also to European destinations.
It would also form the cornerstone of a proposed ro-ro rail service linking North Africa, Northern France and Northern Europe via Marseille and with a possible start date in late 2013.
The project, supported by GPMM and which has also attracted interest from LD Lines and SNCF Geodis, makes provision for ro-ro vessels operating from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia to dock in Marseille where non-accompanied semi-trailers would be handled at a dedicated rail freight terminal close to the quayside and transferred directly on to flat-bed rail wagons.
Source: http://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/